Looking for help from someone who is good in writing book reviews. you only have to write a paper from the book its a very small book and i have attached the book and the guidelines for the paper. the
AL-GHAZ L
D eliverance from E rror
(al-M unqidh min al-Dal l)
Translated by Richard J. M CCARTHY, S.J., as AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 2
In t h e N am e o f G od
M ost G ra cio us a nd M erc ifu l
I t r u st i n t h e L iv in g, W ho d ie th n ot!
1 . The m ost e m in en t a n d a sc eti c M aste r, t h e O rn am en t o f R elig io n a n d th e P ro o f
o f I s la m , A b H m id M uham mad , s o n o f M uham m ad , s o n o f M uham mad , a l- G haz l ,
s a id :
Pra is e b e to G od, W hose p ra is e sh ould p re fa c e e v ery w rit in g a n d d is c o urs e !
A nd G od’s b le ssin g b e u pon M uham mad th e E le ct, d iv in ely g if te d w ith p ro pheth ood
a n d a p ostl e sh ip , a n d u pon h is k in a n d c o m pan io ns, w ho g u id ed m en a w ay f ro m e rro r!
2 . Now th en : Y ou h av e a sk ed m e, m y b ro th er in r e li g io n, to c o m m unic a te to y o u
t h e aim an d se cre ts o f th e sc ie n ce s an d th e d an gero us an d in tr ic a te d ep th s o f th e
d if fe re n t d octr in es a n d v ie w s. Y ou w an t m e to g iv e y o u a n a c co unt o f m y tr a v ail in
d is e n gag in g th e tr u th fro m a m id th e w elte r o f th e s e cts , d esp ite th e p ola rity o f th eir
m ean s a n d m eth ods. Y ou a ls o w an t to h ear a b out m y d arin g in m ountin g fro m th e
l o w la n d o f s e rv il e c o nfo rm is m to th e h ig h la n d o f in dep en den t in vestig atio n: a n d f ir s t
o f all w hat pro fit I deriv ed fro m th e sc ie n ce of ka l m ; se co ndly w hat I fo und
l o ath so m e a m ong t h e m eth ods o f t h e d ev ote es o f t a ‘l m , w ho r e str ic t t h e a tta in m en t o f
t r u th to u ncritic al a cc ep ta n ce o f th e Im am ’s p ro nouncem en ts ; th ir d ly , th e m eth ods o f
p hil o so phiz in g w hic h I s c o ute d ; a n d fin ally , w hat p le ase d m e in th e w ay p urs u ed b y
t h e p ra cti c e o f S ufis m . Y ou a ls o w is h t o k now t h e q uin te sse n tia l t r u th d is c lo se d t o m e
i n th e to rtu ous c o urs e o f m y in quir y in to th e v ie w s e x pre ss e d b y v ario us m en : a n d
w hat le d m e to q uit te ach in g in B ag h dad , th ough I h ad m an y s tu den ts th ere : a n d w hat
i n duced m e t o r e su m e t e ach in g i n N is h ap ur m uch l a te r.
3 . Convin ced o f th e sin cerity o f y o ur d esir e , I a m lo sin g n o tim e in a n sw erin g
y o ur re q uest. In vokin g G od’s h elp , a n d p la c in g m y tr u st in H im , a n d im plo rin g H is
f a v or, a n d h av in g r e co urs e t o H im , I s a y :
4 . You s h ould fir s t o f a ll k now — G od g iv e y o u g o od g u id an ce a n d g en tly le ad
y o u to th e tr u th ! — th at th e div ers it y of m en in re lig io ns an d cre e d s, plu s th e
d is a g re em en t o f th e C om munit y o f Is la m a b out d octr in es, g iv en th e m ulti p lic ity o f
s e cts a n d th e d iv erg en cy o f m eth ods, is a d ee p s e a in w hic h m ost m en fo under a n d
f ro m w hic h f e w o nly a re s a v ed . E ac h g ro up a lle g es t h at it is t h e o ne s a v ed , a n d “ e ach
f a c tio n is h ap py a b out it s o w n b elie fs .” T his is th e s ta te o f a ffa ir s w hic h th e tr u th fu l
a n d m ost tr u stw orth y C hie f of G od’s en voys — G od ble ss him ! — om in ously
p ro m is e d u s w hen h e s a id : “ M y C om munit y w il l s p li t i n to s e v en ty -o dd s e cts , o f w hic h
o ne w ill b e s a v ed .” A nd w hat h e p ro m is e d h as i n dee d c o m e t o p ass!
5 . In th e b lo om o f m y y o uth a n d th e p rim e o f m y lif e , fro m th e tim e I re a ch ed
p uberty b efo re I w as tw en ty u nti l n ow , w hen I a m o ver fif ty , I h av e c o nsta n tly b een
d iv in g d arin gly in to th e d ep th s o f th is p ro fo und s e a a n d w ad in g in to it s d ee p w ate r
l i k e a b old m an , n ot li k e a c au ti o us c o w ard . I w ould p en etr a te fa r in to e v ery m urk y
m yste ry , p ounce u pon e v ery p ro ble m , a n d d ash in to e v ery m az y d if fic u lty . I w ould
s c ru ti n iz e th e c re e d o f e v ery se ct a n d se ek to la y b are th e s e c re ts o f e ac h fa cti o n’s
t e ach in g w ith th e aim of dis c rim in ati n g betw ee n th e pro ponen t of tr u th an d th e
a d vocate o f e rro r, a n d b etw een th e fa ith fu l fo ll o w er o f tr a d iti o n a n d th e h ete ro dox
i n novato r. I w ould n ev er ta k e le av e o f a n in te rio ris t w ith out w an tin g to le a rn a b ou t
h is in te rio ris m , or of a li te ra lis t w ith out w an tin g to know th e su bsta n ce of his
l i te ra lis m , o r o f a p hilo so pher w it h out s e e k in g to b ec o m e a cq uain te d w ith t h e e sse n ce
o f h is p hil o so phy, o r o f a m uta ka ll im w ith out e n dea v orin g to d is c o ver th e a im o f h is
d is c u ssio n a n d p ole m ic , o r o f a S ufi w ith out e ag erly tr y in g t o o bta in k now le d ge o f th e
s e cre t o f h is s e re n ity , o r o f a d ev out w ors h ip er w ith out lo okin g in to th e s o urc e a n d AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 3
s u bsta n ce o f h is p ie ty , o r o f a n ir re li g io us n ih ili s t w ith out a tte m pti n g to fin d o ut h is
b ac k gro und an d m oti v ati o n in o rd er to b ec o m e aw are o f th e re a so ns fo r h is b old
p ro fe ssio n o f n ih ilis m a n d i r re lig io n.
6 . The th ir s t fo r g ra sp in g th e re al m ean in g o f th in gs w as in deed m y h ab it a n d
w ont fro m m y e a rly y ears a n d in th e p rim e o f m y lif e . It w as a n in stin ctiv e, n atu ra l
d is p ositi o n p la c ed in m y m ak eu p b y G od M ost H ig h , n ot s o m eth in g d ue to m y o w n
c h oosin g a n d c o ntr iv in g. A s a r e su lt, th e f e tte rs o f s e rv ile c o nfo rm is m f e ll a w ay f ro m
m e, a n d i n herite d b eli e fs l o st t h eir h old o n m e, w hen I w as s til l q uite y o ung. F or I s a w
t h at th e ch ild re n of C hris tia n s alw ay s gre w up em bra c in g C hris tia n ity , an d th e
c h ild re n o f J e w s a lw ay s g re w u p a d herin g to J u dais m , a n d th e c h ild re n o f M uslim s
a lw ay s g re w u p f o ll o w in g t h e r e lig io n o f I s la m . I a ls o h eard th e tr a d itio n r e la te d f ro m
t h e A postl e o f G od — G od’s b le ssin g a n d p eace b e u pon h im ! — in w hic h h e s a id :
“ E very in fa n t is b orn en dow ed w ith th e fitr a : th en h is p are n ts m ak e h im Je w o r
C hris ti a n o r M ag ia n .” C onse q uen tl y I fe lt a n in ner u rg e to s e ek th e tr u e m ea n in g o f
t h e o rig in al fitr a , a n d th e tr u e m ea n in g o f th e b elie fs a ris in g th ro ugh s la v is h a p in g o f
p are n ts a n d te a ch ers . I w an te d to s if t o ut th ese u ncrit ic a l b eli e fs , th e b eg in nin gs o f
w hic h a re s u ggestio ns i m pose d f ro m w ith out, s in ce t h ere a re d if fe re n ce s o f o pin io n i n
t h e d is c ern m en t o f t h ose t h at a re t r u e f ro m t h ose t h at a re f a ls e .
7 . So I b eg an b y s a y in g t o m yse lf : “ W hat I s e e k i s k now le d ge o f t h e t r u e m ean in g
o f th in gs. O f n ec essity , th ere fo re , I m ust in quir e in to ju st w hat th e tr u e m ean in g o f
k now le d ge is .” T hen it b ec am e c le ar to m e th at s u re a n d c erta in k now le d ge is th at in
w hic h th e th in g k now n is m ad e so m an if e st th at n o d oubt clin gs to it , n or is it
a c co m pan ie d b y t h e p ossib il ity o f e rr o r a n d d ece p tio n, n or c an t h e m in d e v en s u ppose
s u ch a p oss ib ilit y . F urth erm ore , s a fe ty fro m e rro r m ust a c co m pan y th e c e rta in ty to
s u ch a d eg re e th at, if s o m eo ne p ro pose d to s h ow it to b e f a ls e — f o r e x am ple , a m an
w ho w ould tu rn a s to ne in to g o ld a n d a s tic k i n to a s n ak e — h is f e at w ould n ot i n duce
a n y d oubt o r d en ia l. F or if I k now t h at t e n is m ore t h an t h re e, a n d th en s o m eo ne w ere
t o s a y : “ N o, o n th e c o ntr a ry , th re e is m ore th an te n , a s is p ro ved b y m y tu rn in g th is
s tic k in to a s n ak e” — a n d if h e w ere to d o ju st th at a n d I w ere to s e e h im d o it, I
w ould n ot d oubt m y k now le d ge b ecau se o f h is f e at. T he o nly e ffe ct it w ould h av e o n
m e w ould b e to m ak e m e w onder h ow h e c o uld d o s u ch a th in g. B ut th ere w ould b e
n o d oubt a t a ll a b out w hat I k new !
8 . I r e aliz ed , t h en , t h at w hate v er I d id n ot k now i n t h is w ay a n d w as n ot c e rta in o f
w ith th is kin d of ce rta in ty w as unre lia b le an d unsu re know le d ge, an d th at ev ery
k now le d ge u nacco m pan ie d b y s a fe ty f ro m e rro r i s n ot s u re a n d c e rta in k now le d ge.
The A ven ues t o S ophis tr y a nd S kep tic is m
9 . I t h en s c ru tin iz ed a ll m y c o gn it io ns a n d f o und m yse lf d ev oid o f a n y k now le d ge
a n sw erin g th e p re v io us d esc rip tio n ex cep t in th e ca se o f se n se -d ata an d th e se lf -
e v id en t tr u th s. S o I s a id : “ N ow th at d esp air h as b efa lle n m e, th e o nly h ope I h av e o f
a c q uir in g a n in sig h t in to o bsc u re m atte rs i s t o s ta rt f ro m t h in gs t h at a re p erfe ctl y c le a r,
n am ely se n se -d ata an d th e se lf -e v id en t tr u th s. H en ce I m ust fir s t stu dy th ese
t h oro ugh ly i n o rd er to r e ach a s u re a n sw er t o t h ese q uestio ns: I s m y r e lia n ce o n s e n se -
d ata a n d m y s a fe ty f ro m e rro r i n t h e c ase o f s e lf -e v id en t t r u th s o f t h e s a m e k in d a s t h at
w hic h I fo rm erly h ad re g ard in g th e d ic ta o f a u th ority , a n d o f th e s a m e k in d a s th at
w hic h m ost m en h av e re g ard in g sp ec u la tiv e m att e rs ? O r is it a v erif ia b le sa fe ty
c o nta in in g n o d ec ep ti o n o r d an ger?
1 0. With g re at e a rn estn ess, t h ere fo re , I b eg an t o r e fle ct o n m y s e n se -d ata t o s e e i f I
c o uld m ak e m yse lf d oubt t h em . T his p ro tr a cte d e ffo rt t o in duce d oubt f in ally b ro ugh t
m e to th e p oin t w here m y s o ul w ould n ot a llo w m e to a d m it s a fe ty f r o m e rro r e v en i n
t h e c a se o f m y s e n se -d ata . R ath er i t b eg an t o b e o pen t o d oubt a b out t h em a n d t o s a y : AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 4
“ W hen ce c o m es y o ur r e li a n ce o n s e n se -d ata ? T he s tr o ngest o f th e s e n se s is t h e s e n se
o f sig h t. N ow th is lo oks a t a s h ad ow a n d s e es it s ta n din g s ti ll a n d m otio nle ss a n d
j u dges th at m otio n m ust b e d en ie d . T hen , d ue to e x perie n ce a n d o bse rv ati o n, a n h ou r
l a te r it k now s th at th e s h ad ow is m ovin g, a n d th at it d id n ot m ove in a s u dden s p urt,
b ut so g ra d ually a n d im perc ep tib ly th at it w as n ev er c o m ple te ly a t re st. S ig h t a ls o
l o oks a t a s ta r a n d s e e s it a s s o m eth in g s m all, th e s iz e o f a d in ar: th en g eo m etr ic al
p ro ofs d em onstr a te t h at it s u rp ass e s t h e e arth i n s iz e. I n t h e c ase o f t h is a n d o f s im ila r
i n sta n ces o f se n se -d ata th e se n se -ju dge m ak es it s ju dgm en ts , b ut th e re a so n-ju dge
r e fu te s i t a n d r e p eate d ly g iv es i t t h e l ie i n a n i n co ntr o verti b le f a sh io n.
1 1. Then I s a id : “ M y r e lia n ce o n s e n se -d ata h as a ls o b eco m e u nte n ab le . P erh ap s,
t h ere fo re , I can re ly o nly o n th ose ra tio nal d ata w hic h b elo ng to th e cate g o ry o f
p rim ary tr u th s, s u ch a s o ur a ss e rtin g th at ‘T en is m ore th an th re e,’ a n d ‘O ne a n d th e
s a m e th in g c a n not b e sim ulta n eo usly a ffir m ed a n d d en ie d ,’ a n d ‘O ne a n d th e sa m e
t h in g ca n not be in cip ie n t an d ete rn al, ex is te n t an d nonex is te n t, nece ss a ry an d
i m poss ib le .”
1 2. Then se n se -d ata sp oke u p: “ W hat a ssu ra n ce h av e y o u th at y o ur re li a n ce o n
r a tio nal data is not li k e yo ur re lia n ce on se n se -d ata ? In deed , yo u use d to hav e
c o nfid en ce i n m e. T hen t h e r e aso n-ju dge c a m e a lo ng a n d g av e m e t h e l ie . B ut w ere i t
n ot f o r th e r e aso n-ju dge, y o u w ould s till a c cep t m e a s tr u e. S o th ere m ay b e, b ey o nd
t h e p erc ep tio n o f r e aso n, a n oth er j u dge. A nd i f t h e l a tte r r e v eale d i ts e lf , i t w ould g iv e
t h e l i e to t h e j u dgm en ts o f r e a so n, j u st a s t h e r e aso n-ju dge r e v eale d i ts e lf a n d g av e t h e
l i e to th e ju dgm en ts o f se n se . T he m ere fa ct o f th e n onap pea ra n ce o f th at fu rth er
p erc ep tio n d oes n ot p ro ve t h e i m possib il ity o f i ts e x is te n ce.”
1 3. For a b rie f sp ace m y so ul h esita te d a b out th e a n sw er to th at o bje cti o n, a n d
s e n se -d ata r e in fo rc ed t h eir d if fic u lty b y a n a p peal t o d re a m in g, s a y in g: “ D on’t y o u s e e
t h at w hen y o u a re a sle ep y o u b elie v e c erta in t h in gs a n d i m ag in e c e rta in c ir c u m sta n ce s
a n d b elie v e th ey a re fix ed a n d la stin g a n d e n te rta in n o d oubts a b out th at b ein g th eir
s ta tu s? T hen yo u w ak e u p an d k now th at all yo ur im ag in in gs an d b eli e fs w ere
g ro undle ss a n d u nsu bsta n tia l. S o w hile e v ery th in g y o u b eli e v e th ro ugh s e n sa tio n o r
i n te ll e ctio n in y o ur w ak in g s ta te m ay b e tr u e in re la tio n to th at s ta te , w hat a ss u ra n ce
h av e y o u th at y o u m ay n ot s u dden ly e x perie n ce a s ta te w hic h w ould h av e th e s a m e
r e la ti o n to y o ur w ak in g s ta te a s th e la tte r h as to y o ur d re a m in g, a n d y o ur w ak in g s ta te
w ould b e d re a m in g in r e la tio n t o th at n ew a n d f u rth er s ta te ? I f y o u f o und y o urs e lf i n
s u ch a sta te , yo u w ould be su re th at all yo ur ra ti o nal belie fs w ere unsu bsta n ti a l
f a n cie s.
1 4. It m ay b e th at th is s ta te b ey o nd re a so n is th at w hic h th e S ufis c la im is th eir s .
F or th ey a lle g e th at, in th e s ta te s th ey e x perie n ce w hen th ey c o ncen tr a te in w ard ly a n d
s u sp en d s e n sa ti o n, th ey s e e p hen om en a w hic h a re n ot in a cc o rd w ith th e n orm al d ata
o f re a so n. O r it m ay b e th at th is s ta te is d eath . F or th e A postl e o f G od — G od’s
b le ss in g a n d p eace b e u pon h im ! — s a id : ‘M en a re a sle ep : th en a fte r th ey d ie th ey
a w ak e.’ So perh ap s th is pre se n t li f e is a sle ep co m pare d to th e afte rlif e .
C onse q uen tly , w hen a m an d ie s, t h in gs w ill a p pear t o h im d if fe re n tly f ro m t h e w ay h e
n ow s e es th em , a n d th ere u pon h e w ill b e to ld : ‘ B ut W e h av e r e m oved f ro m y o u y o u r
v eil a n d t o day y o ur s ig ht i s k ee n ’ ( 5 0.2 1/2 2).”
1 5. When th ese th ough ts o ccu rre d to m e th ey p en etr a te d m y s o ul, a n d s o I tr ie d t o
d ea l w ith th at o bje c tio n. H ow ev er, m y e ffo rt w as u nsu cce ss fu l, s in ce th e o bje c tio n
c o uld b e re fu te d o nly b y p ro of. B ut th e o nly w ay to p ut to geth er a p ro of w as to
c o m bin e p rim ary c o gn itio ns. S o if , a s in m y c a se , th ese w ere in ad m is s ib le , it w as
i m poss ib le t o c o nstr u ct th e p ro of. T his m ala d y w as m yste rio us a n d i t l a ste d f o r n ea rly
t w o m onth s. D urin g th at tim e I w as a sk ep ti c in fa ct, b ut n ot in u tte ra n ce an d
d octr in e. A t le n gth G od M ost H ig h c u re d m e o f th at s ic k ness. M y s o ul r e g ain ed it s AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 5
h ea lth a n d e q uil ib riu m a n d o nce a g ain I a c cep te d th e s e lf -e v id en t d ata o f re aso n a n d
r e lie d o n th em w ith s a fe ty a n d c erta in ty . B ut th at w as n ot a ch ie v ed b y c o nstr u cti n g a
p ro of o r p utti n g to geth er a n a rg u m en t. O n th e c o ntr a ry , it w as th e e ffe ct o f a lig h t
w hic h G od M ost H ig h ca st in to m y bre ast. A nd th at li g h t is th e key to m ost
k now le d ge.
1 6. There fo re , w hoev er th in ks th at th e u nveil in g o f tr u th d ep en ds o n p re cis e ly
f o rm ula te d p ro ofs h as i n deed s tr a ite n ed t h e b ro ad m erc y o f G od. W hen t h e A postle o f
G od — G od’s b le ssin g a n d p eace b e u pon h im ! — w as a sk ed a b out “ th e d ila tio n” in
t h e M ost H ig h ’s u tte ra n ce: “ S o h e w hom G od w is h es to g u id e a rig h t, H e d il a te s h is
b re a st fo r su bm is sio n to H im se lf (i.e ., to e m bra ce Is la m )” (6 .1 25), h e s a id : “ It is a
l i g h t w hic h G od c asts in to th e h ea rt.” T hen s o m eo ne s a id : “ A nd w hat is th e s ig n o f
i t ? ” H e re p lie d : “W ith dra w al fro m th e m an sio n of delu sio n an d tu rn in g to th e
m an sio n o f im m orta lity .” A nd it is th is o f w hic h th e A postle — G od’s b le ssin g a n d
p ea ce b e u pon h im ! — s a id : “ G od M ost H ig h c re ate d m en in d ark ness, th en s p rin kle d
o n th em so m e o f H is li g h t.” F ro m th at lig h t, th en , th e u nveilin g o f tr u th m ust b e
s o ugh t. M ore o ver, th at li g h t g u sh es fo rth fro m th e d iv in e li b era lity a t c e rta in tim es,
a n d o ne m ust b e o n t h e w atc h f o r i t a cc o rd in g t o t h e s a y in g o f t h e A postle — P ea ce b e
u pon h im ! — “ Y our L ord , in th e d ay s o f y o ur li f e ti m e, s e n ds f o rth g u sts o f g ra ce : d o
y o u t h en p ut y o urs e lv es i n t h e w ay o f t h em !”
1 7. The a im o f th is a c co unt is to e m phasiz e th at o ne s h ould b e m ost d ilig en t in
s e ek in g th e tr u th u nti l h e f in ally c o m es to s e ek in g th e u nse ek ab le . F or p rim ary tr u th s
a re u nse e k ab le , b ec au se th ey a re p re se n t in th e m in d; a n d w hen w hat is p re se n t is
s o ugh t, it is lo st an d hid es it s e lf . B ut one w ho se ek s th e unse e k ab le can no t
s u bse q uen tl y b e a ccu se d o f n eg lig en ce i n s e ek in g w hat i s s e ek ab le .
The C ate g orie s o f T hose W ho S ee k t h e T ru th
1 8. When G od M ost H ig h , o f H is k in dness a n d a b undan t g en ero sity , h ad c u re d m e
o f th is s ic k ness, I w as o f th e v ie w th at th e c a te g orie s o f th ose s e ek in g th e tr u th w ere
l i m it e d t o f o ur g ro ups:
l . T he M uta ka lli m n , w ho a lle g e t h at t h ey a re m en o f i n dep en den t j u d gm en t a n d r e aso n in g.
2. T he B
tin it e s, w ho cla im to be th e un iq ue posse sso rs of al- ta ‘l m an d th e priv ile g ed
r e cip ie n ts o f k now le d ge a cq u ir e d f r o m t h e I n fa ll ib le I m am .
3. T he P hilo so p hers , w ho m ain ta in t h at t h ey a re t h e m en o f l o gic a n d a p od eic tic d em onstr a tio n .
4. T he S ufis , w ho c la im t o b e t h e f a m ili a rs o f t h e D iv in e P re se n ce a n d t h e m en o f m ystic v is io n
a n d i l lu m in atio n .
1 9. I th en sa id to m yse lf : “ T he tr u th c an not tr a n sc e n d th ese fo ur c ate g o rie s, fo r
t h ese a re th e m en w ho a re fo ll o w in g th e p ath s o f th e q uest fo r tr u th . H en ce, if th e
t r u th e lu des th em , th ere re m ain s n o h ope o f e v er a tt a in in g it. F or th ere c a n b e n o
d esir e t o r e tu rn t o s e rv ile c o nfo rm is m o nce i t h as b een a b an doned , s in ce a p re re q uis ite
f o r b ein g a s e rv ile c o nfo rm is t i s th at o ne d oes n ot k now h im se lf t o b e s u ch . B ut w hen
a m an re c o gn iz es th at, th e gla ss of his se rv il e co nfo rm is m is sh atte re d — an
i r re p ara b le fra g m en ta ti o n an d a m ess w hic h can not be m en ded by patc h in g an d
p ie cin g t o geth er: i t c an o nly b e m elte d b y f ir e a n d n ew ly r e sh ap ed .
2 0. I th ere fo re lo st no ti m e in fo llo w in g th ese dif fe re n t w ay s an d m ak in g a
t h oro ugh s tu dy o f th e v ie w s o f th ese g ro ups. I a p plie d m yse lf fir s t to th e s c ie n ce o f
k a l m , s e c o ndly t o t h e w ay o f p hilo so phy, t h ir d ly t o t h e t e a ch in gs o f t h e B tin ite s, a n d
f o urth ly t o t h e W ay o f t h e S ufis .
The A im a nd P urp ort o f t h e S cie n ce o f K al m
2 1. I b eg an , th en , w it h th e s c ie n ce o f k a l m , w hic h I s u m m ariz ed in th e fo rm o f
n ote s. I c are fu lly s tu die d th e w ork s o f th e m ost m etic u lo us m uta ka ll im n, a n d I w ro te AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 6
o n t h e s u bje ct w hat I h ad a m in d t o w rite . S ubse q uen tly , h ow ev er, I f o und i t a s c ie n ce
a d eq uate f o r it s o w n a im , b ut in ad eq uate f o r m in e. F or its a im is s im ply to c o nse rv e
t h e cre e d of th e orth odox fo r th e orth odox an d to guard it fro m th e co nfu sio n
i n tr o duced b y t h e i n novato rs .
2 2. In t h e p ast G od M ost H ig h a n d P ra is e w orth y c o m munic a te d t o H is s e rv an ts , b y
t h e to ngue o f H is A postl e , a cre e d w hic h is th e tr u th , in asm uch a s it is , fo r th eir
r e lig io us a n d s e c u la r lif e , t h e s o und b asis a s a rtic u la te d in d eta il in t h e Q ur’ n a n d th e
T ra d iti o ns. T hen S ata n , th ro ugh th e s in is te r s u ggesti o ns o f th e in novato rs , in je c te d
n oti o ns o ppose d to o rth odox y, w ith th e r e su lt t h at th e in novato rs b eca m e p assio nate ly
a d dic te d to th ese e rro rs a n d a ll b ut ru in ed th e tr u e c re ed fo r it s a d here n ts . S o G od
M ost H ig h r a is e d u p th e g ro up o f th e m uta ka lli m n a n d m otiv ate d th em to c h am pio n
o rth odox y b y a s y ste m atic d is c u ssio n d esig n ed to d is c lo se th e d ece p tio ns in tr o duced
b y th e c o ntr iv in g in novato rs c o ntr a ry to th e tr a d itio nal o rth odox y. T his g av e ris e to
t h e s c ie n ce o f k a l m a n d i ts p ra cti tio ners .
2 3. A g ro up o f th e m uta ka lli m n d id in deed p erfo rm th e ta sk a ssig n ed to th em b y
G od. T hey a b ly p ro te cte d o rth odox y a n d d efe n ded th e c re ed w hic h h ad b ee n r e ad ily
a c ce p te d fro m th e pro phetic pre a ch in g an d bold ly co unte ra cte d th e here tic al
i n novatio ns. B ut in s o d oin g th ey r e li e d o n p re m is e s w hic h th ey to ok o ver f ro m th eir
a d vers a rie s, b ein g c o m pelle d t o a d m it t h em e it h er b y u ncritic al a c cep ta n ce , o r b ecau se
o f t h e C om munit y ’s c o nse n su s, o r b y s im ple a c cep ta n ce d eriv in g f ro m t h e Q ur’ n a n d
t h e T ra d iti o ns. M ost o f th eir p ole m ic w as d ev ote d to b rin gin g o ut th e in co nsis te n cie s
o f t h eir a d vers a rie s a n d c ritic iz in g t h em f o r t h e l o gic ally a b su rd c o nse q uen ces o f w hat
t h ey c o nced ed . T his , h ow ev er, i s o f l it tle u se i n t h e c ase o f o ne w ho a d m its n oth in g a t
a ll e x cep t t h e p rim ary a n d s e lf -e v id en t t r u th s. S o k a l m w as n ot s u ffic ie n t i n m y c a se ,
n or w as i t a r e m ed y f o r t h e m ala d y o f w hic h I w as c o m pla in in g.
2 4. To b e s u re , w hen th e d is c ip li n e o f k a l m a cq uir e d s o m e s ta tu s a n d h ad b een
m uch e n gag ed in f o r s o m e le n gth o f tim e, th e m uta ka lli m n s h ow ed a n e arn est d esir e
f o r a tte m ptin g to d efe n d o rth odox y b y th e s tu dy o f th e tr u e n atu re s o f th in gs. T hey
p lu nged in to th e s tu dy o f s u bsta n ce s a n d a cc id en ts a n d t h eir p rin cip le s. B ut s in ce t h at
w as not th e aim of th eir ow n sc ie n ce, th eir dis c u ss io n of th e su bje c t w as no t
t h oro ugh goin g; th ere fo re it d id n ot p ro vid e a n e ffe cti v e m ea n s o f d is p ellin g e n tir e ly
t h e d ark ness d ue to th e b ew ild erm en t a b out th e d if fe re n ces d iv id in g m en . I d o n o t
r e g ard it a s im pro bab le th at s u ch m ay h av e b een th e r e su lt in th e c ase o f o th ers . I d o
n ot e v en d oubt th at it h as a ctu ally b een th e e x perie n ce o f a lim ite d g ro up o f m en , b u t
i n a w ay v iti a te d b y se rv il e c o nfo rm is m in so m e m atte rs w hic h a re n ot a m ong th e
p rim ary tr u th s. In a n y e v en t, m y p re se n t p urp ose is to te ll th e s to ry o f m y o w n c a se ,
n ot to ex pre ss dis a p pro val of an yo ne w ho so ugh t a cu re in ka l m . F or h ea lin g
r e m ed ie s d if fe r a s th e sic k ness d if fe rs , a n d m an y a re m ed y h elp s o ne s ic k m an a n d
h arm s a n oth er.
P H IL O SO PH Y
[ O n th e g is t o f p hilo so ph y: w hat is b la m ew orth y in it , a n d w ha t b la m ele ss; w hat d o ctr in e la ys its
p ro p on en t o pen to th e ch a rg e o f u n belie f, a nd w hat d octr in e la ys h im o p en to th e ch a rg e, n o t o f
u nb elie f, b ut o f in n ova ti o n; a n d a n e x p osé o f w ha t th e p h il o so p hers h a ve s to le n fr o m th e s a yin gs o f th e
m en o f tr u th a n d m in gle d w ith th eir o w n a ffi r m atio ns to p ro m ote th e c ir c u la tio n o f th eir o w n e rr o rs
t o g eth er w it h th o se tr u th s; a n d h o w s o uls c o m e to fe el a n a ntip a th y fo r th o se tr u th s; a n d h o w t o e xtr a ct
t h e u n adu lt e ra te d tr u th fr o m a m id th e c o u nte rfe it a nd sp u rio u s v ie w s fo un d in th e a gg re g a te o f th e
p hilo so ph ers’ t e a ch in g .]
2 5. Afte r f in is h in g w ith th e s c ie n ce o f k a l m , I t h en s ta rte d o n p hilo so phy. I k new
f o r s u re t h at o ne c an not r e c o gn iz e w hat i s u nso und i n a n y o f t h e s c ie n ce s u nle ss h e h as
s u ch a g ra sp o f th e fa rth est re ac h es o f th at s c ie n ce th at h e is th e e q ual o f th e m ost
l e arn ed o f th ose v ers e d in th e p rin cip le s o f th at s c ie n ce ; th en h e m ust e v en e x cel h im
a n d atta in ev en gre a te r em in en ce so th at he beco m es co gn iz an t of th e in tr ic a te AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 7
p ro fu ndit ie s w hic h h av e r e m ain ed b ey o nd th e k en o f th e a ck now le d ged m aste r o f th e
s c ie n ce . T hen , a n d th en o nly , w ill it b e p ossib le th at th e u nso undness h e a lle g es w ill
b e s e en a s r e all y s u ch .
2 6. I n ote d , h ow ev er, th at n ot a sin gle M uslim d iv in e h ad d ir e cte d h is a tte n tio n
a n d e n deav or to th at e n d. W hat th e m uta ka ll im n h ad to s a y in th eir b ooks, w here
t h ey w ere e n gag ed in re fu ti n g th e p hilo so phers , w as n oth in g b ut a b str u se , s c att e re d
r e m ark s, p ate n tl y in co nsis te n t a n d fa ls e , w hic h c o uld n ot c o nceiv ab ly h oodw in k a n
o rd in ary in te lli g en t p ers o n, to s a y n oth in g o f o ne fa m ilia r w it h th e su btle tie s o f th e
p hil o so phic al s c ie n ce s.
2 7. I knew , of co urs e , th at underta k in g to re fu te th eir doctr in e befo re
c o m pre h en din g it a n d k now in g it in d ep th w ould b e a s h ot in th e d ark . S o I g ir d ed
m yse lf fo r th e ta sk o f le arn in g th at sc ie n ce b y th e m ere p eru sa l o f th eir w riti n gs
w ith out se e k in g th e h elp o f a m aste r a n d te a ch er. I d ev ote d m yse lf to th at in th e
m om en ts I h ad f re e f ro m w rit in g a n d le ctu rin g o n th e le g al s c ie n ce s — a n d I w as th en
b urd en ed w ith th e te ac h in g a n d in str u ctio n o f th re e h undre d s tu den ts in B ag hdad . A s
i t tu rn ed o ut, th ro ugh m ere re a d in g in th ose e m bez z le d m om en ts , G od M ost H ig h
g av e m e a n in sig h t in to th e f a rth est r e a ch es o f th e p hilo so phers ’ s c ie n ces in le ss th an
t w o y ears . T hen , h av in g u nders to od th eir d octr in e, I c o ntin ued to r e fle c t a ssid uously
o n it fo r n ea rly a y ear, c o m in g b ac k to it c o nsta n tly a n d re p eate d ly re e x am in in g it s
i n tr ic a cie s an d p ro fu nditi e s. F in ally I b ec am e so fa m ili a r w it h th e m easu re o f it s
d ec eit a n d d ecep tio n, a n d it s p re c is io n a n d d elu sio n, th at I h ad n o d oubt a b out m y
t h oro ugh g ra sp o f i t .
2 8. So h ea r n ow m y a c co unt o f t h e p hilo so phers a n d m y r e p ort o f t h e s u bsta n ce o f
t h eir s c ie n ces. F or I o bse rv ed t h at th ey f e ll i n to s e v era l c ate g o rie s a n d n ote d t h at t h eir
s c ie n ce s i n clu ded s e v era l d iv is io ns. B ut t o a ll o f t h em , d esp ite t h e m ultip lic ity o f t h eir
c a te g orie s, cle av es th e stig m a o f u nbeli e f a n d g o dle ssn ess . Y et th ere is a m ark ed
d if fe re n ce b etw een t h e o ld er a n d t h e o ld est o f t h em a n d t h e m ore r e ce n t a n d t h e e arlie r
i n t h eir d is ta n ce f ro m a n d c lo se n ess t o t h e t r u th .
The C ate g orie s o f t h e P hilo so phers a nd t h e F act T hat t h e S tig m a o f U nbelie f I s
C om mon t o A ll o f T hem
2 9. Know th at th e p hil o so phers , n otw ith sta n din g th e m ultip lic ity o f th eir g ro ups
a n d th e div ers ity of th eir doctr in es, can be div id ed in to th re e m ain div is io ns:
M ate ria lis ts , N atu ra lis ts , a n d T heis ts .
3 0. The fir st ca te g ory , th e M ate ria lis ts , w ere a gro up of th e m ost an cie n t
p hil o so phers w ho d en ie d th e ex is te n ce o f th e o m nis c ie n t a n d o m nip ote n t C re ato r-
R ule r. T hey a ll e g ed th at th e w orld h as e x is te d f ro m e te rn ity a s it is , o f it s e lf a n d n o t
b y re a so n o f a M ak er. A nim als h av e u ncea sin gly c o m e fro m se e d , a n d se ed fro m
a n im als : t h us i t w as, a n d t h us i t e v er w ill b e. T hese a re t h e g o dle ss i n t h e f u ll s e n se o f
t h e t e rm .
3 1. The se co nd c a te g ory , th e N atu ra lis ts , w ere m en w ho d ev ote d m uch s tu dy to
t h e w orld o f n atu re a n d th e m arv els f o und in a n im als a n d p la n ts ; th ey a ls o w ere m uch
t a k en u p w ith t h e d is s e c tio n o f a n im al o rg an s. I n t h ese t h ey s a w s u ch m arv els o f G od
M ost H ig h ’s m ak in g a n d s u ch w onders o f H is w is d om th at t h ey w ere c o m pell e d , w it h
t h at in m in d, to a c k now le d ge th e e x is te n ce o f a w is e C re a to r c o gn iz an t o f th e a im s
a n d p urp ose s o f a ll th in gs. In deed , n o o ne c a n s tu dy th e s c ie n ce o f a n ato m y a n d th e
m arv elo us u se s o f th e o rg an s w ith out a cq uir in g th is co m pelli n g k now le d ge o f th e
p erfe ct g o vern an ce o f H im W ho s h ap ed t h e s tr u ctu re o f a n im als , a n d e sp ec ia lly t h at o f
m an . AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 8
3 2. How ev er, i t a p peare d t o t h ese p hil o so phers , b ecau se t h ey h ad s tu die d n atu re s o
m uch , th at t h e e q uilib riu m o f th e m ix tu re o f h um ors h ad a g re at e ffe ct o n t h e r e su ltin g
c o nsti tu ti o n o f th e a n im al’ s p ow ers . H en ce th ey th ough t th at m an ’s ra ti o nal p ow er
w as a ls o d ep en den t o n th e m ix tu re o f h is h um ors a n d th at i ts c o rru ptio n w ould f o ll o w
t h e c o rru ptio n o f th e m ix tu re o f h is h um ors , a n d s o th at p ow er w ould c ea se to e x is t.
O nce it cea se d to ex is t, th ey alle g ed th at b rin gin g b ack th e n onex is te n t w ould b e
u nin te ll ig ib le . So th ey ad opte d th e vie w th at th e so ul die s, nev er to re tu rn .
C onse q uen tly th ey den ie d th e afte rli f e an d re je c te d th e G ard en an d th e F ir e , th e
A ss e m bly a n d th e R ecall, a n d th e R esu rre ctio n a n d th e R eck onin g. S o in th eir v ie w
t h ere w ould b e n o fu tu re re w ard f o r o bed ie n ce , a n d n o p unis h m en t f o r d is o bed ie n ce .
T here fo re th ey lo st all re str a in t an d ab an doned th em se lv es to th eir passio ns lik e
b ea sts . T hese w ere a ls o g o dle ss m en , b ecau se b asic f a ith i s b elie f i n G od a n d t h e L ast
D ay — a n d t h ese m en d en ie d t h e L ast D ay , e v en t h ough t h ey b eli e v ed i n G od a n d H is
A ttr ib ute s.
3 3. The th ir d c a te g ory , th e T heis ts , w ere th e la te r p hil o so phers , s u ch a s S ocra te s,
t h e m aste r of Pla to , an d Pla to , th e m aste r of A ris to tl e . It w as A ris to tl e w ho
s y ste m ati z ed lo gic fo r th e phil o so phers an d re fin ed th e philo so phic al sc ie n ces,
a c cu ra te ly fo rm ula tin g p re v io usly im pre cis e s ta te m en ts a n d b rin gin g to m atu rit y th e
c ru ditie s o f th eir s c ie n ces. T ak en a lto geth er, th ese r e fu te d th e f ir s t tw o c ate g o rie s o f
t h e M ate ria li s ts a n d th e N atu ra lis ts . In dee d , b y th e a rg u m en ts th ey a d van ced to la y
b are t h e e n orm it ie s o f t h e l a tte r, t h ey r e lie v ed o th ers o f t h at t a sk : “ A nd G od s p are d t h e
b elie v ers fro m fig h ti n g (th e u nbelie v ers )” (3 3.2 5) b y re aso n o f th e u nbelie v ers ’ o w n
i n fig h tin g.
3 4. Then A ris to tle re fu te d P la to a n d S ocra te s a n d th e T heis ts w ho h ad p re c ed ed
h im i n s u ch t h oro ugh f a sh io n t h at h e d is a ss o cia te d h im se lf f ro m t h em a ll . Y et h e, t o o ,
r e ta in ed r e m nan ts o f th eir v ic io us u nbeli e f a n d in novatio n w hic h h e w as u nsu cce ss fu l
i n a v oid in g. S o th ey a ll m ust b e ta x ed w ith u nbelie f, a s m ust th eir p artis a n s a m ong
t h e M usli m p hil o so phers , su ch as Ib n S n an d al- F r b an d th eir lik es. N one,
h ow ev er, o f th e M usli m p hilo so phers e n gag ed s o m uch i n t r a n sm itt in g A ris to tle ’s l o re
a s d id th e tw o m en ju st m en tio ned . W hat o th ers tr a n sm itt e d is n ot f re e f ro m d is o rd er
a n d co nfu sio n an d in stu dyin g it o ne’s m in d b eco m es so m uddle d th at h e fa ils to
u nders ta n d i t — a n d h ow c a n t h e i n co m pre h en sib le b e r e je c te d o r a cce p te d ?
3 5. The su m of w hat w e re g ard as th e au th en ti c philo so phy of A ris to tl e , as
t r a n sm itt e d b y a l- F r b a n d I b n S n , c an b e r e d uced t o t h re e p arts : a p art w hic h m ust
b e b ra n ded a s u nbelie f; a p art w hic h m ust b e s ti g m atiz ed a s in novatio n; a n d a p art
w hic h n ee d n ot b e r e p udia te d a t a ll. L et u s n ow s e t t h is f o rth i n d eta il .
The D iv is io ns o f t h e P hilo so phic a l S cie n ces
3 6. Know th at th e s c ie n ces o f th e p hilo so phers , w ith r e fe re n ce to th e a im w e h av e
i n m in d, i n clu de s ix d iv is io ns: m ath em atic a l, l o gic a l, p hysic a l, m eta p hysic al, p oliti c al,
a n d m ora l.
3 7. The m ath em atic a l sc ie n ces d ea l w it h arit h m etic , g eo m etr y , an d astr o nom y.
B ut n oth in g i n t h em e n ta ils d en ia l o r a ffir m ati o n o f r e li g io us m att e rs . O n t h e c o ntr a ry ,
t h ey c o ncern r ig o ro usly d em onstr a te d f a cts w hic h c an in n o w is e b e d en ie d o nce th ey
a re k now n a n d u nders to od. F ro m t h em , h ow ev er, t w o e v il s h av e b ee n e n gen dere d .
3 8. One o f th ese is th at w hoev er ta k es u p th ese m ath em atic al s c ie n ce s m arv els a t
t h e fin e p re cis io n o f th eir d eta ils a n d th e c la rity o f th eir p ro ofs . B ecau se o f th at, h e
f o rm s a h ig h o pin io n o f th e p hil o so phers a n d a ssu m es th at a ll th eir s c ie n ces h av e th e
s a m e lu cid ity a n d a p odeic tic s o lid ity a s th is sc ie n ce o f m ath em atic s. M ore o ver, h e
w ill h av e h eard th e ta lk o f th e to w n a b out th eir u nbelie f, th eir n eg ativ e a tti tu de, a n d
t h eir d is d ain fo r th e L aw . T here fo re h e c ease s to b eli e v e o ut o f p ure c o nfo rm is m , AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 9
a sse rti n g: “If re lig io n w ere tr u e, th is w ould not hav e bee n unknow n to th ese
p hil o so phers , g iv en th eir p re c is io n in th is sc ie n ce o f m ath em atic s.” T hus, w hen h e
l e arn s th ro ugh h ears a y o f th eir u nbeli e f a n d r e je cti o n o f r e li g io n, h e c o nclu des th at it
i s rig h t to re je c t a n d d is a v ow re lig io n. H ow m an y a m an h av e I s e en w ho s tr a y ed
f ro m t h e p ath o f t r u th o n t h is p re te x t a n d f o r n o o th er r e aso n!
3 9. One m ay s a y to s u ch a m an : “ A p ers o n s k ille d in o ne fie ld is n ot n ece ss a rily
s k ill e d in ev ery fie ld . T hus a m an sk ill e d in ju ris p ru den ce an d ka l m is no t
n ec essa ril y s k ille d in m ed ic in e, n or is a m an w ho is ig n ora n t o f th e s p ecu la ti v e a n d
r a tio nal sc ie n ce s n ec essa rily ig n ora n t o f th e sc ie n ce o f sy n ta x . O n th e c o ntr a ry , in
e a ch fie ld th ere are m en w ho hav e re a ch ed in it a certa in deg re e of sk ill an d
p re e m in en ce , alth ough th ey m ay b e q uite stu pid an d ig n ora n t ab out o th er th in gs.
W hat th e a n cie n ts h ad to s a y a b out m ath em atic al to pic s w as a p odeic tic , w here as th eir
v ie w s o n m eta p hysic a l q uestio ns w ere co nje ctu ra l. B ut th is is k now n o nly to an
e x perie n ced m an w ho h as m ad e a t h oro ugh s tu dy o f t h e m att e r.”
4 0. When s u ch a n a rg u m en t is u rg ed a g ain st o ne w ho h as b ec o m e a n u nbeli e v er
o ut of m ere co nfo rm is m , he fin ds it unac cep ta b le . R ath er, cap ric e ’s sw ay , vain
p assio n, a n d lo ve o f a p pearin g to b e c le v er p ro m pt h im to p ers is t in h is h ig h o pin io n
o f th e p hilo so phers w ith r e g ard to a ll th eir s c ie n ces. T his , th en , is a v ery s e rio us e v il ,
a n d b ecau se o f it o ne s h ould w arn o ff a n yo ne w ho w ould e m bark u pon th e s tu dy o f
t h ose m ath em atic a l s c ie n ces. F or e v en th ough th ey d o n ot p erta in to th e d om ain o f
r e lig io n, y et, s in ce t h ey a re a m ong th e p rim ary e le m en ts o f th e p hil o so phers ’ s c ie n ces,
t h e s tu den t o f m ath em ati c s w ill b e in sid io usly a ffe cte d b y th e s in is te r m is c h ie f o f th e
p hil o so phers . R are , th ere fo re , a re th ose w ho s tu dy m ath em atic s w ith out lo sin g th eir
r e lig io n a n d t h ro w in g o ff t h e r e str a in t o f p ie ty .
4 1. The s e co nd e vil lik ely to fo ll o w fro m th e s tu dy o f th e m ath em atic al s c ie n ce s
d eriv es fro m th e c ase o f a n ig n ora n t frie n d o f Is la m w ho s u ppose s th at o ur re lig io n
m ust b e c h am pio ned b y t h e r e je ctio n o f e v ery s c ie n ce a sc rib ed t o t h e p hilo so phers . S o
h e r e je cts a ll th eir s c ie n ce s, c la im in g t h at th ey d is p la y ig n ora n ce a n d f o lly in t h em a ll .
H e e v en d en ie s th eir s ta te m en ts a b out e clip se s o f th e s u n a n d th e m oon a n d a ss e rts
t h at t h eir v ie w s a re c o ntr a ry to t h e r e v eale d L aw . W hen s u ch a n a sse rti o n r e ach es th e
e a rs o f s o m eo ne w ho k now s th ose th in gs th ro ugh a p odeic ti c d em onstr a ti o n, h e d oes
n ot d oubt th e v alid it y o f h is p ro of, b ut r a th er b elie v es th at I s la m is b uilt o n ig n ora n ce
a n d th e d en ia l o f a p odeic tic d em onstr a ti o n. S o h e b ec o m es a ll th e m ore e n am ore d o f
p hil o so phy a n d e n ven om ed a g ain st Is la m . G re at in dee d is th e c rim e a g ain st re lig io n
c o m mit te d b y a n yo ne w ho s u ppose s th at Is la m is to b e c h am pio ned b y th e d en ia l o f
t h ese m ath em atic a l sc ie n ces. F or th e re v ea le d L aw n ow here u nderta k es to d en y o r
a ffir m t h ese s c ie n ces, a n d t h e l a tte r n ow here a d dre ss t h em se lv es t o r e lig io us m atte rs .
4 2. The s a y in g o f M uham mad — G od’s b le ssin g a n d p ea ce b e u pon h im ! — “ T he
s u n a n d m oon a re tw o o f th e s ig n s o f G od M ost H ig h: th ey a re n ot e cli p se d fo r th e
d ea th o r l i f e o f a n y m an ; s o w hen y o u s e e a n e clip se , f ly in f e ar to t h e m en ti o n o f G od
M ost H ig h ,” co nta in s n oth in g d em an din g th e d en ia l o f th e sc ie n ce o f calc u la tio n
w hic h a p pris e s u s o f th e c o urs e o f th e s u n a n d th e m oon a n d th eir c o nju nctio n a n d
t h eir o pposit io n in a s p ec if ic w ay . A s f o r h is ( a lle g ed ) s a y in g — P ea ce b e u pon h im !
— “ B ut w hen G od m an if e sts H im se lf to a th in g, it h um ble s its e lf b efo re H im ,” th is
a d ditio n is n ot f o und a t a ll in s o und tr a d iti o n. T his , th en , is th e ju dgm en t to b e m ad e
o n t h e c h ara cte r o f m ath em ati c s a n d i t s e v il c o nse q uen ce s.
4 3. Noth in g in th e lo gic a l sc ie n ces h as a n yth in g to d o w ith re lig io n b y w ay o f
n eg ati o n an d affir m atio n. O n th e co ntr a ry , th ey are th e stu dy o f th e m eth ods o f
p ro ofs , of sy llo gis m s, of th e co nditi o ns go vern in g th e pre m is e s of ap odeic tic
d em onstr a ti o n, o f h ow t h ese p re m is e s a re t o b e c o m bin ed , o f t h e r e q uis it e s f o r a s o und
d efin iti o n, a n d o f h ow t h e l a tt e r i s t o b e d ra w n u p. K now le d ge i s e it h er a c o nce p t, a n d AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 10
t h e w ay to k now it is th e d efin iti o n, o r it is a n a sse n t, a n d th e w ay to k now it is th e
a p odeic tic d em onstr a tio n. T here is n oth in g in th is w hic h m ust b e re je cte d . O n th e
c o ntr a ry , it is th e s o rt o f th in g m en tio ned b y th e m uta ka ll im n a n d th e p artis a n s o f
r e a so nin g in c o nnec tio n w it h th e p ro ofs th ey u se . T he p hilo so phers d if fe r f ro m th em
o nly in m odes of ex pre ss io n an d te c h nic a l te rm s an d in a gre ate r re fin em en t in
d efin iti o ns an d su bdiv is io ns. Their m an ner of dis c o urs in g on su ch th in gs is
e x em pli f ie d b y th eir sa y in g: “If it is c erta in th at ev ery A is B , th en it n ece ss a rily
f o ll o w s th at s o m e B is A ” — f o r in sta n ce : I f it is c e rta in th at e v ery m an is a n a n im al,
t h en i t f o llo w s n ece ss a rily t h at s o m e a n im al i s a m an . T his t h ey e x pre ss b y s a y in g t h at
a univ ers a l affir m ativ e pro positi o n is co nverti b le to a partic u la r affir m ativ e
p ro positi o n.
4 4. What h as th is t o d o w ith t h e i m porta n t t r u th s o f o ur r e lig io n, t h at it s h ould c a ll
f o r r e je c tio n a n d d en ia l? W hen i t i s r e je cte d , th e o nly e ffe c t o f s u ch a r e je cti o n in th e
m in ds o f lo gic ia n s is a lo w o pin io n o f th e r e je cte r’s in te ll ig en ce, a n d, w hat is w ors e ,
o f h is r e li g io n, w hic h , h e c la im s, r e sts o n s u ch r e je c tio n. T o b e s u re , th e p hil o so phers
t h em se lv es a re g u il ty o f a k in d o f i n ju stic e i n th e c a se o f t h is s c ie n ce o f l o gic . T his i s
t h at in lo gic th ey b rin g to geth er, fo r a p odeic ti c d em onstr a ti o n, c o ndit io ns k now n to
l e ad u ndoubte d ly to su re an d certa in k now le d ge. B ut w hen , in m eta p hysic s, th ey
f in ally co m e to dis c u ss questio ns to uch in g on re li g io n, th ey can not sa tis fy th ose
c o nditio ns, b ut r a th er a re e x tr e m ely s li p sh od in a p ply in g th em . M ore o ver, lo gic m ay
b e stu die d by one w ho w ill th in k it a fin e th in g an d re g ard it as very cle a r.
C onse q uen tly h e w il l th in k th at th e in sta n ces o f u nbeli e f re la te d o f th e p hil o so phers
a re b ack ed u p b y d em onstr a tio ns s u ch a s th ose s e t fo rth in lo gic . T here fo re h e w ill
r u sh in to u nbeli e f e v en b efo re te ac h in g th e m eta p hysic al sc ie n ce s. H en ce th is e v il
m ay a ls o b efa ll t h e s tu den t o f l o gic .
4 5. The p hysic a l s c ie n ces a re a s tu dy o f th e w orld o f th e h eav en s a n d th eir s ta rs
a n d o f th e su blu nar w orld ’s sim ple b odie s, su ch a s w ate r, a ir , e arth , a n d fir e , a n d
c o m posite b odie s, s u ch a s a n im als , p la n ts , a n d m in era ls . T hey a ls o s tu dy th e c a u se s
o f th eir c h an gin g a n d b ein g tr a n sfo rm ed a n d b ein g m ix ed . T hat is li k e m ed ic in e’s
s tu dy o f th e h um an b ody a n d its p rin cip al a n d s u bsid ia ry o rg an s a n d th e c au se s o f th e
a lte ra tio n o f th e m ix tu re s o f it s h um ors . A nd ju st a s re lig io n d oes n ot re q uir e th e
r e p udia ti o n o f th e s c ie n ce o f m ed ic in e, s o a ls o it d oes n ot re q uir e th e re p udia tio n o f
t h e s c ie n ce o f p hysic s, e x cep t f o r c e rta in s p ec if ic q uesti o ns w hic h w e h av e m en tio ned
i n o ur b ook T he In co here n ce o f th e P hil o so phers . A part fro m th ese , it w ill b e c le a r
u pon re fle cti o n th at a n y o th er p oin ts o n w hic h th e p hysic is ts m ust b e o ppose d a re
s u bsu m ed in th ose w e h av e a llu ded to . T he b asic p oin t re g ard in g a ll o f th em is fo r
y o u to k now th at n atu re is to ta ll y s u bje c t to G od M ost H ig h : it d oes n ot a c t o f its e lf
b ut is u se d a s a n i n str u m en t b y i ts C re a to r. T he s u n, m oon, s ta rs , a n d t h e e le m en ts a re
s u bje c t t o G od’s c o m man d: n one o f t h em e ffe cts a n y a c t b y a n d o f i ts e lf .
4 6. It is in th e m eta physic a l sc ie n ces th at m ost o f th e p hilo so phers ’ erro rs are
f o und. O win g to th e fa ct th at th ey co uld n ot carry o ut ap odeic tic d em onstr a tio n
a c co rd in g to th e c o nditio ns th ey h ad p ostu la te d in lo gic , th ey d if fe re d a g re at d eal
a b out m eta p hysic al q uesti o ns. A ris to tle ’s d octr in e o n t h ese m att e rs , a s tr a n sm itte d b y
a l- F r b a n d Ib n S n , a p pro x im ate s th e te a ch in gs o f th e Is la m ic p hil o so phers . B ut
t h e s u m o f th eir e rro rs c o m es d ow n to tw en ty h ea d s, in th re e o f w hic h th ey m ust b e
t a x ed w ith u nbeli e f, a n d in s e v en te en w ith in novati o n. It w as to r e fu te th eir d octr in e
o n t h ese t w en ty q uesti o ns t h at w e c o m pose d o ur b ook T he I n co here n ce.
4 7. In th e th re e q uesti o ns fir s t m en tio ned th ey w ere o ppose d to (th e b eli e f o f) a ll
M uslim s, v iz . i n t h eir a ffir m in g
(1 ) th at m en ’s bodie s w ill not be asse m ble d on th e L ast D ay , but only
d is e m bodie d s p ir its w ill b e r e w ard ed a n d p unis h ed , a n d th e r e w ard s a n d p unis h m en ts AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 11
w ill b e sp ir itu al, n ot co rp ora l. T hey w ere in deed rig h t in affir m in g th e sp ir it u al
r e w ard s an d punis h m en ts , fo r th ese als o are certa in ; but th ey fa ls e ly den ie d th e
c o rp ora l re w ard s a n d p unis h m en ts a n d b la sp hem ed th e re v ea le d L aw in th eir s ta te d
v ie w s.
(2 ) The se co nd questi o n is th eir decla ra tio n: “G od M ost H ig h know s
u niv ers a ls , b ut n ot p artic u la rs .” T his a ls o is o ut- a n d-o ut u nbeli e f. O n th e c o ntr a ry ,
t h e tr u th i s th at “ th ere d oes n ot e sc a p e H im t h e w eig h t o f a n a to m in t h e h eav en s o r i n
t h e e arth .” ( 3 4.3 ; c f. 1 0.6 2/6 1).
(3 ) T he th ir d q uestio n is th eir m ain ta in in g th e e te rn ity o f th e w orld , p ast a n d
f u tu re .
No M uslim h as e v er p ro fe sse d a n y o f t h eir v ie w s o n t h ese q uestio ns.
4 8. On o th er m atte rs — su ch as th e d en ia l o f th e d iv in e attr ib ute s, an d th eir
a sse rti o n th at G od is k now in g b y H is e ss e n ce, n ot b y a k now le d ge s u pera d ded to H is
e sse n ce , an d sim il a r vie w s of th eir s — th eir doctr in e is clo se to th at of th e
M u‘ta z ili te s. B ut th ere is n o n ee d to ta x th e M u‘ta z ilit e s w it h u nbelie f b eca u se o f
s u ch v ie w s. W e h av e a lr e ad y m en ti o ned th at in o ur b ook T he C le a r C rite rio n fo r
D is tin guis h in g b etw ee n Is la m a nd G odle ss n ess, a s w ell a s w hat s h ow s th e e rro r o f
a n yo ne w ho p re cip ito usly b ra n ds as u nbelie f e v ery th in g th at c la sh es w ith h is o w n
d octr in e.
4 9. In th e p olit ic a l s c ie n ce s a ll th at th e p hilo so phers h av e to s a y c o m es d ow n to
a d m in is tr a tiv e m ax im s c o ncern ed w it h s e c u la r a ffa ir s a n d th e g o vern m en t o f ru le rs .
T hey s im ply to ok t h ese o ver f ro m th e s c rip tu re s r e v eale d t o t h e p ro phets b y G od M ost
H ig h a n d f ro m t h e m ax im s h an ded d ow n f ro m t h e p re d ec esso rs o f t h e p ro phets .
5 0. All th ey h av e to sa y ab out th e m ora l sc ie n ce s co m es d ow n to lis tin g th e
q ualiti e s a n d h ab it s o f th e s o ul, a n d r e co rd in g t h eir g en eric a n d s p ec if ic k in ds, a n d th e
w ay to c u ltiv ate th e g ood o nes a n d c o m bat th e b ad . T his th ey s im ply to ok o ver f ro m
t h e s a y in gs o f th e S ufis . T hese w ere g o dly m en w ho a p plie d th em se lv es a ssid uously
t o in vokin g G od, re sis tin g p ass io n, a n d f o llo w in g th e w ay le a d in g to G od M ost H ig h
b y s h unnin g w orld ly p le a su re s. I n th e c o urs e o f t h eir s p ir itu al c o m bat t h e g o od h ab it s
o f th e s o ul a n d its s h ortc o m in gs h ad b ee n d is c lo se d to th em a n d a ls o th e d efe cts th at
v it ia te its a ctio ns. A ll th is th ey s e t fo rth p la in ly . T hen th e p hilo so phers to ok o ver
t h ese id eas a n d m ix ed th em w it h th eir o w n d octr in es, u sin g th e lu str e a ffo rd ed b y
t h em t o p ro m ote th e c ir c u la tio n o f th eir o w n f a ls e t e ac h in g. T here w as i n deed i n t h eir
a g e, n ay b ut th ere is in e v ery a g e, a g ro up o f g o dly m en o f w hom G od M ost H ig h
n ev er le a v es th e w orld d estitu te . F or th ey a re th e p illa rs o f th e e a rth , a n d b y th eir
b le ss in gs th e d iv in e m erc y d esc e n ds u pon e arth dw elle rs a s is d ec la re d in th e tr a d itio n
f ro m M uham m ad — G od’s b le ssin g a n d p eace b e u pon h im ! — in w hic h h e sa y s:
“ B eca u se o f th em y o u re c eiv e ra in , a n d th an ks to th em y o u re c eiv e s u ste n an ce , a n d
a m ong th em w ere th e C om pan io ns o f th e C av e.” S uch g o dly m en e x is te d in a n cie n t
t i m es a s t h e Q ur’ n d ec la re s ( c f. S ura 1 8).
5 1. Fro m th e Is la m ic philo so phers ’ m ix in g th e pro pheti c utte ra n ce s an d th e
s a y in gs o f th e S ufis w it h th eir o w n w riti n gs tw o e v ils h av e s p ru ng: o ne in th e c ase o f
t h e m an w ho a cce p ts th eir eth ic al te ach in g, th e o th er in th e case o f th e m an w ho
r e je c ts i t .
5 2. The ev il in th e case o f th e m an w ho re je c ts th eir eth ic al te ac h in g is v ery
s e rio us. F or s o m e d im -w itt e d p ers o ns s u ppose , s in ce t h at b orro w ed p ro pheti c a n d s u fi
d octr in e h as b een s e t d ow n in th e p hil o so phers ’ w rit in gs a n d m ix ed w ith th eir fa ls e
d octr in e, th at th is d octr in e m ust b e e sc h ew ed a n d n ev er c ite d a n d e v en d is a v ow ed
w hen ev er a n yo ne c ite s it. T his is th eir a tti tu de b eca u se th ey h av e h eard th at d octr in e
i n t h e f ir s t p la c e o nly f ro m t h e p hilo so phers . S o t h eir w eak m in ds s tr a ig h tw ay j u dge i t AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 12
t o b e e rro neo us b ecau se th e o ne w ho v oic e s it is i n e rro r o n o th er m att e rs . T his i s l ik e
t h e c a se o f a m an w ho h ears a C hris tia n s a y : “ T here is n o G od b ut G od; J e su s is th e
A postle o f G od,” a n d th en d en ie s it, s a y in g: “ T his is w hat th e C hris tia n s s a y .” S uch a
m an d oes n ot d efe r ju dgm en t w hile h e p onders w heth er th e C hris tia n is a n u nbeli e v er
b ec au se o f th at s ta te m en t, o r b ec au se o f h is d en ia l o f M uham m ad ’s p ro pheth ood —
G od’s b le ssin g a n d p ea ce b e u pon h im ! H en ce , if h e is a n u nbelie v er o nly b ec au se o f
h is d en ia l o f th e la tt e r, h e s h ould n ot b e c o ntr a d ic te d in m atte rs o th er th an w hat h e
d is b elie v es — I m ea n s o m eth in g w hic h i s tr u e in i ts e lf , e v en t h ough t h e C hris tia n a ls o
h old s i t t o b e t r u e.
5 3. This is th e p ra ctic e o f th ose d im -w itt e d m en w ho k now th e tr u th b y m en , a n d
n ot m en b y th e tr u th . T he in te llig en t m an , o n th e c o ntr a ry , f o ll o w s th e a d vic e o f th e
M aste r o f t h e I n te ll ig en t, ‘ A l — G od b e p le a se d w ith h im ! — w here h e s a y s: “ D o n o t
k now th e tr u th b y m en , b ut ra th er, k now th e tr u th a n d y o u w ill k now it s a d here n ts .”
T he i n te ll ig en t m an , th ere fo re , f ir s t k now s th e tr u th , t h en h e c o nsid ers w hat i s a c tu ally
s a id b y s o m eo ne. I f it is tr u e, h e a cc ep ts it , w heth er th e s p ea k er b e w ro ng o r r ig h t in
o th er m atte rs . I n deed , s u ch a m an w ill o fte n b e in te n t o n e x tr a cti n g w hat is tr u e f ro m
t h e in volv ed u tte ra n ce s o f th e e rrin g, sin ce h e is a w are th at g o ld is u su all y fo und
m ix ed w it h d ir t. T he m oney -c h an ger s u ffe rs n o h arm i f h e p uts h is h an d in to th e s a ck
o f th e tr ic k ste r an d pulls out th e gen uin e pure go ld fro m am ong th e fa ls e an d
c o unte rfe it c o in s, so lo ng a s h e c an re ly o n h is p ro fe ssio nal a c u m en . It is n ot th e
e x pert m oney -c h an ger, b ut r a th er th e in ex perie n ced b um pkin w ho m ust b e r e str a in ed
f ro m d eali n g w ith th e tr ic k ste r. L ik ew is e , a c lu m sy a n d s tu pid p ers o n m ust b e k ep t
a w ay fro m th e s e a sh ore , n ot th e p ro fic ie n t s w im m er; a n d a c h ild m ust b e p re v en te d
f ro m h an dlin g a s n ak e, n ot t h e s k ille d s n ak e c h arm er.
5 4. It is c e rta in ly tr u e, s in ce m ost m en h av e a n o verw ee n in g o pin io n o f th eir o w n
c o m pete n ce an d cle v ern ess an d th in k th ey are p erfe c tly eq uip ped in te ll e ctu all y to
d is c e rn tr u th fro m e rro r, th at th e d oor m ust b e b lo ck ed to p re v en t th e g en era lity o f
m en , a s f a r a s p ossib le , f ro m p eru sin g th e w ork s o f th ose a d dic te d to e rro r. F or th ey
w ill b y n o m ean s b e s a fe f ro m t h e s e c o nd e v il w hic h w e s h all p re se n tl y m en ti o n, e v en
i f t h ey d o m an ag e t o e sc ap e t h e e v il w hic h w e h av e j u st n ote d .
5 5. Som e o f t h e r e m ark s f o und h ere a n d th ere i n o ur w ork s o n t h e m yste rie s o f t h e
r e lig io us sc ie n ces w ere obje c te d to by a gro up of m en w hose m in ds w ere no t
t h oro ugh ly g ro unded in th ose s c ie n ces a n d w hose m en ta l v is io n w as n ot o pen to th e
u lt im ate aim s o f o ur te a ch in gs. T hey alle g ed th at th ose re m ark s w ere ta k en fro m
t h in gs s a id b y t h e e arly p hilo so phers . A s a m atte r o f f a ct, s o m e o f t h em w ere m y o w n
o rig in al id eas — a n d it is n ot fa rfe tc h ed th at id eas s h ould c o in cid e, ju st a s a h ors e ’s
h oof m ay fa ll o n th e p rin t le ft b y a n oth er; a n d s o m e a re fo und in th e s c rip tu re s; a n d
t h e s e n se o f m ost i s f o und i n t h e w riti n gs o f t h e S ufis .
5 6. How ev er, ass u m in g th at th ey are fo und only in th e writi n gs of th e
p hil o so phers , if w hat is sa id is re aso nab le in it s e lf a n d c o rro bora te d b y a p odeic tic
p ro of a n d n ot c o ntr a ry to th e Q ur’ n a n d th e S unna, th en w hy s h ould it b e s h unned
a n d r e je cte d ? I f w e w ere to o pen t h is d oor a n d a im a t f o rg o in g e v ery t r u th w hic h h ad
b ee n fir s t fo rm ula te d b y th e m in d o f o ne in e rro r, w e w ould h av e to fo rg o m uch o f
w hat is tr u e. W e w ould a ls o h av e to g iv e u p a lo t o f th e v ers e s o f th e Q ur’ n a n d th e
t r a d iti o ns o f th e A postl e a n d th e r e cita ls o f o ur p io us f o re b ears a n d th e s a y in gs o f th e
s a g es a n d t h e S ufis . F or t h e a u th or o f t h e b ook o f “ T he B re th re n o f P urity ” c ite s t h ese
i n h is o w n w ork , a p pealin g to th eir a u th orit y a n d th ere b y e n tic in g th e m in ds o f s tu pid
m en to e m bra ce h is fa ls e d octr in e. T hat w ould b e a n in vita tio n to th ose in e rro r to
w re st t h e t r u th f ro m o ur h an ds b y p utti n g i t i n to t h eir o w n b ooks.
5 7. The lo w est le v el a tta in ed b y a n in te llig en t m an is to b e s o d if fe re n t fro m th e
g u ll ib le m an in th e s tr e et th at h e f e els n o a v ers io n to h oney , e v en t h ough h e f in ds i t i n AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 13
a c u pper’s g la ss, b ut re aliz es th at th e c u ppin g g la ss d oes n ot a lte r th e n atu re o f th e
h oney . F or th e n atu ra l d is ta ste fo r s u ch h oney is b ase d o n a p opula r m is c o nce p tio n
a ris in g fro m th e fa ct th at th e cu ppin g gla ss is m ad e fo r blo od deem ed im pure .
C onse q uen tly th e m an in th e s tr e e t s u ppose s th e b lo od is d ee m ed im pure b ec au se i t i s
i n th e cu ppin g g la ss an d d oes n ot re ali z e th at it is d eem ed im pure b ecau se o f a
p ro perty fo und in th e b lo od its e lf . H en ce, s in ce th is p ro perty d oes n ot e x is t in th e
h oney , its b ein g f o und in s u ch a v ess e l d oes n ot im part to it th at p ro perty n or d oes it
n ec essita te i ts b ein g d eem ed i m pure . T his i s a n e m pty f a n cy , y et i t i s p re v ale n t a m ong
m ost m en . T hus, w hen ev er y o u tr a c e b ack a s ta te m en t a n d a tt r ib ute it to a s p ea k er o f
w hom th ey h av e a g o od o pin io n, th ey a c cep t it , e v en th ough it b e f a ls e ; b ut w hen ev er
y o u a tt r ib ute it to so m eo ne o f w hom th ey h av e a b ad o pin io n, th ey re je ct it, e v en
t h ough it b e tr u e. T hus th ey a lw ay s k now th e tr u th b y m en , n ot m en b y th e tr u th —
w hic h is th e n e p lu s u ltr a o f e rro r! T his , th en , is th e e v il d ue to to ta l r e je c tio n o f th e
p hil o so phers ’ e th ic a l t e a ch in g.
5 8. The s e co nd e v il is th at d ue to to ta l a cce p ta n ce o f th eir e th ic al te a ch in g. F or
o ne w ho s tu die s th eir b ooks, s u ch a s th at o f “ T he B re th re n o f P urit y ” a n d o th ers , a n d
s e es th e pro phetic m ax im s an d su fi sa y in gs th ey in te rs p ers e d w ith th eir ow n
u tt e ra n ces, ofte n ap pro ves of th eir w riti n gs an d acce p ts th em an d fo rm s a go od
o pin io n o f th em . T here u pon h e m ay re ad il y a c cep t th eir e rro rs m ix ed u p w ith th ose
b orro w ed tr u th s b ec au se o f a g o od o pin io n acq uir e d ab out w hat h e h as se e n an d
a p pro ved . T hat i s a w ay o f l u rin g m en i n to e rro r.
5 9. Bec au se o f th is e v il th e p eru sa l o f th e p hilo so phers ’ b ooks m ust b e p re v en te d
o n t h e s c o re o f t h e d ec eit a n d d an ger t h ey c o nta in . J u st a s a n u nsk il le d s w im mer m ust
b e k ep t a w ay fro m sli p pery riv er b an ks, so m en m ust b e k ep t fro m p eru sin g th ose
b ooks. A nd ju st a s c h il d re n m ust b e k ep t fro m h an dlin g s n ak es, s o th e e ars o f m en
m ust b e p ro te c te d fro m th e fa rra g o o f th ose s a y in gs. A nd ju st a s th e s n ak e c h arm er
m ust n ot h an dle a s n ak e in th e p re se n ce o f h is li ttl e b oy, s in ce h e k now s th at th e b oy
w ill im ita te h im th in kin g h e is li k e h is f a th er, b ut r a th er m ust c a u tio n h is b oy a g ain st
t h at b y b ein g c a u tio us h im se lf in th e b oy’s p re se n ce, s o a ls o t h e m an o f d eep le a rn in g
m ust c o m port h im se lf . F urth erm ore , w hen a s k il le d s n ak e c h arm er ta k es a s n ak e a n d
s e p ara te s th e a n tid ote fro m th e p ois o n a n d d ra w s fo rth th e a n tid ote a n d re n ders th e
p ois o n h arm le ss , h e is n ot f re e t o w ith hold th e a n ti d ote f ro m a n yo ne in n eed o f i t . S o,
t o o, w hen th e m oney ch an ger sk ill e d in pic k in g out co in s puts his han d in th e
t r ic k ste r’s sa ck a n d ta k es o ut th e g en uin e p ure g o ld a n d d is c ard s th e sp urio us a n d
c o unte rfe it co in s, h e is n ot fre e to w it h hold th e g o od an d acc ep ta b le co in s fro m
a n yo ne w ho n eed s t h em . T he s a m e h old s g o od f o r t h e t r u e s c h ola r.
6 0. More o ver, a m an in n eed o f th e a n tid ote w hose s o ul f e e ls a g re at lo ath in g f o r
i t , b eca u se h e k now s th at it h as b een e x tr a cte d f ro m th e s n ak e w hic h is t h e s e a t o f th e
p ois o n, m ust b e p ro perly in str u cte d . L ik ew is e , w hen a p oor m an in d ir e n eed o f
m oney is av ers e to ac cep tin g go ld dra w n fro m th e tr ic k ste r’s sa ck he m ust be
r e m in ded th at h is a v ers io n is p ure ig n ora n ce w hic h w il l c a u se h im to b e d ep riv ed o f
t h e b en efit h e se ek s. H e c e rta in ly o ugh t to b e in fo rm ed th at th e p ro x im ity o f th e
c o unte rfe it t o th e g en uin e c o in s d oes n ot m ak e th e g en uin e c o in s c o unte rfe it , ju st a s it
d oes n ot m ak e th e c o unte rfe it c o in s g en uin e. I n p re cis e ly t h e s a m e w ay , t h ere fo re , t h e
c lo se p ro x im it y o f th e tr u e to th e fa ls e d oes n ot m ak e th e tr u e fa ls e , a s it d oes n o t
m ak e t h e f a ls e t r u e.
This , th en , is as m uch as w e w is h to sa y ab out th e ev il an d m is c h ie f o f
p hil o so phy.
The D octr in e o f T a‘l m is m a nd I ts D anger AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 14
6 1. When I h ad fin is h ed w ith th e s c ie n ce o f p hil o so phy — h av in g m aste re d a n d
u nders to od it a n d p in poin te d its e rro rs — I k new th at p hil o so phy a ls o w as in ad eq uate
t o s a tis fy m y a im f u lly . I a ls o r e a liz ed th at r e aso n a lo ne is in cap ab le o f f u lly g ra sp in g
a ll p ro ble m s o r o f g ett in g t o t h e h eart o f a ll d if fic u lti e s. M ea n w hile t h e T a‘lim ite s h ad
c o m e in to p ro m in en ce a n d th eir t a lk o f a n a rc a n e k now le d ge o f th e m ea n in g o f th in gs
d eriv ed fro m th e in fa llib le Im am , M aste r o f th e T ru th , h ad b een b ru it e d a b out. It
o cc u rre d to m e th at I o ugh t to in quir e in to th eir v ie w s to fin d o ut e x actl y w hat th eir
p ositi o n w as. T hen it hap pen ed th at a pere m pto ry ord er re ach ed m e fro m H is
H ig h ness th e C ali p h to w rit e a b ook w hic h w ould re v ea l th e tr u e m ea n in g o f th eir
d octr in e. I c o uld n ot c o ntr a v en e th at o rd er, a n d i t b ecam e a n e x te rn al i n cen ti v e a d ded
t o m y o rig in al in te rio r m oti v e. S o I b eg an to s e ek o ut th eir w ritin gs a n d to c o lle ct
t h eir vie w s. I had alr e a d y been str u ck by so m e of th eir novel utte ra n ce s, th e
b ra in ch il d re n o f o ur o w n c o nte m pora rie s, v ie w s w hic h w ere n ot c o nso nan t w it h th e
p ro gra m h an ded d ow n f ro m t h eir p re d ece ss o rs .
6 2. I th ere fo re c o lle cte d a n d m ars h all e d th ose u tt e ra n ces, c o m bin in g th oro ugh ness
a n d ac cu ra c y , an d a n sw ere d th em at g re at le n gth . T he re su lt w as th at o ne o f th e
S unnite s fo und fa u lt w ith m e fo r o vers ta tin g th eir a rg u m en t. H e sa id : “ T his is a n
e ffo rt o n th eir b eh alf . F or th ey w ould h av e b een u nab le to d efe n d th eir d octr in e b y
s u ch s p ec io us a rg u m en ts h ad it n ot b ee n f o r y o ur p in poin ti n g a n d m ars h all in g th em .”
T his c rit ic is m is ju sti f ie d in a w ay . L ong a g o A hm ad ib n H an bal f o und f a u lt w ith a l-
H rit h a l- M uh sib — G od h av e m erc y o n th em b oth ! — fo r h is w rit in g b ooks in
r e fu ta ti o n of th e M u‘ta zil ite s. A l- H rith sa id : “R efu tin g in novatio n is a duty .”
A hm ad re p lie d : “ Y es, b ut y o u h av e fir s t re p orte d th eir s p ec io us a rg u m en t a n d th en
a n sw ere d i t . W hat a ss u ra n ce h av e y o u t h at a m an m ay n ot r e ad t h e s p ecio us a rg u m en t
a n d it w ill s tic k in h is m in d, b ut h e w ill p ay n o a tte n tio n to th e a n sw er, o r h e w ill
s tu dy t h e a n sw er w ith out u nders ta n din g i ts r e a l i m port? ”
6 3. Ahm ad i b n H an bal’ s r e m ark i s t r u e. B ut i t c o nce rn ed a s p ec io us a rg u m en t t h at
h ad n ot b eco m e w id esp re ad a n d n oto rio us. H ow ev er, o nce s u ch a n a rg u m en t b eco m es
w id esp re a d , re p ly in g to it b eco m es im pera tiv e: an d re p ly in g is p oss ib le o nly a fte r
s e tt in g t h e a rg u m en t f o rth . T o b e s u re , o ne s h ould n ot b urd en o nese lf w ith a d if fic u lty
w ith w hic h th ey h av e n ot b oth ere d . N or d id I d o th at. O n th e c o ntr a ry , I h ad h eard
s u ch a rg u m en t fro m o ne o f m y a ss o cia te s w ho fre q uen te d m y c o m pan y a fte r h e h ad
a ffilia te d h im se lf w ith th em a n d p ro fe sse d th eir d octr in e. H e to ld m e th ey u se d to
l a u gh a t th e w ork s o f th ose w ho w ro te in re fu ta tio n o f th em , s in ce th ose w rite rs h ad
s til l n ot g ra sp ed th eir a rg u m en t. H e th en c it e d th at a rg u m en t, r e la tin g it in th eir o w n
w ord s. S o I c o uld n ot p ers o nally b e c o nte n t w ith h av in g i t t h ought t h at I w as u naw are
o f th eir b asic a rg u m en t, a n d f o r th at r e a so n I p re se n te d it; n or d id I w an t it th ough t o f
m e th at, e v en th ough I h ad h eard th e arg u m en t, I h ad n ot g ra sp ed it, a n d fo r th at
r e a so n I r e p orte d it s y ste m atic a lly . M y a im w as t o g iv e t h e f u lle st a cc o unt p oss ib le o f
t h eir s p ecio us a rg u m en ta tio n a n d t h en t o p ro ve i t s e rro r t o t h e h il t.
6 4. To p ut it b rie fly : th ere is n o su bsta n ce to th eir v ie w s a n d n o fo rc e in th eir
a rg um en t. In deed , h ad it n ot b een fo r th e m ala d ro it d efe n se p ut fo rw ard b y th e
i g n ora n t frie n d of tr u th , th at in novati o n, giv en it s w ea k ness, w ould nev er hav e
a tta in ed it s p re se n t p ositi o n. B ut in te n se fa n ati c is m le d th e d efe n ders o f th e tr u th to
p ro lo ng th e d eb ate w ith th em o ver th e p re m is e s o f th eir a rg u m en t a n d to c o ntr a d ic t
t h em in e v ery th in g th ey s a id . T hus th ey fo ugh t th e T a‘lim it e s o ver th eir c la im th at
t h ere m ust b e a u th orita tiv e te ac h in g a n d a n a u th orita tiv e te ach er, an d a ls o in th eir
c la im th at n ot e v ery te ach er is s u ita b le , b ut th at th ere m ust b e a n in fa lli b le te ach er.
T heir arg u m en t sh ow in g th e need of au th orita tiv e te ach in g an d an au th orita tiv e
t e ach er w as lo ud an d cle a r, w here as th e co unte r-a rg u m en t o f th eir o pponen ts w as
w eak . B ec au se o f t h at m an y w ere s e d uced i n to t h in kin g t h at i t w as d ue t o t h e s tr e n gth
o f th e T a‘lim ite s’ doctr in e an d th e w ea k ness of th eir opponen ts ’ doctr in e, no t AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 15
u nders ta n din g th at it w as r e all y d ue to th e d im -w itte d ness o f th e d efe n der o f th e tr u th
a n d h is ig n ora n ce o f h ow to g o ab out it . In fa ct, th e rig h t w ay to p ro ceed is to
a c k now le d ge th e n ee d fo r a n a u th orit a ti v e te a ch er w ho m ust a ls o b e in fa ll ib le . B ut
o ur i n fa llib le t e ac h er i s M uham m ad — G od’s b le ss in g a n d p eac e b e u pon h im ! I f t h ey
s a y : “ H e is d ead ”, w e s a y : “ A nd y o ur te a ch er is a b se n t! ” A nd w hen th ey s a y : “ O ur
t e ach er h as in deed ta u gh t h is e m is sa rie s a n d s c atte re d th em th ro ugh out th e c o untr ie s,
a n d he ex pects th em to re tu rn to co nsu lt h im if th ey d is a g re e o n so m e p oin t o r
e n co unte r so m e dif fic u lty ,” w e sa y : “O ur te ach er has ta u ght his em is sa rie s an d
s c atte re d th em t h ro ugh out th e c o untr ie s, a n d h e h as p erf e cte d t h is te ach in g, s in ce G od
M ost H ig h s a id : ‘ T oday I h av e p erfe cte d f o r y o u y o ur r e lig io n a n d h av e a cco rd ed y o u
M y fu ll fa v or’ (5 .5 /3 ). A nd o nce th e te ach in g h as b een p erfe c te d , th e d ea th o f th e
t e ach er w ork s n o h arm , j u st a s h is a b se n ce w ork s n o h arm .”
6 5. There re m ain s th eir a rg u m en t: “ H ow d o y o u ju dge a b out a c a se y o u h av e n o t
h ea rd o f? B y th e te x t? B ut y o u h av e n ot h eard it. O r b y p ers o nal e ffo rt a n d f o rm in g
y o ur o w n o pin io n? B ut th is is th e m ost lik ely p la c e fo r d is a g re e m en t! ” W e re p ly :
“ W e d o a s M u‘ d h d id w hen t h e A postle o f G od — P ea ce b e u pon h im ! — d is p atc h ed
h im t o Y em en , v iz . w e j u dge b y t h e t e x t, i f t h e t e x t e x is ts , a n d b y p ers o nal e ffo rt i n i t s
a b se n ce.” In fa c t w e d o a s th eir e m is s a rie s d o w hen th ey a re in la n ds fa rth est a w ay
f ro m th e I m m . F or th ey c an not ju dge b y th e te x t, s in ce lim ite d te x ts c an not e x hau st
u nli m it e d c ase s; n or c a n t h ey r e tu rn t o t h e I m am ’s t o w n i n e a ch i n div id ual c a se , f o r b y
t h e ti m e th ey w ould h av e c o vere d th e d is ta n ce a n d r e tu rn ed , th e p etiti o ner m ig h t w ell
h av e d ie d a n d t h eir r e tu rn w ould b e u se le ss.
6 6. A m an , th en , w ho has a p ro ble m ab out th e q ib la h as n o re co urs e b ut to
p erfo rm h is P ra y er in acc o rd an ce w ith h is p ers o nal ju dgm en t. F or if h e w ere to
j o urn ey to th e Im m ’s to w n to le arn a b out th e q ib la , th e tim e fo r th e P ra y er w ould
e la p se . H en ce th e P ra y er p erfo rm ed fa cin g a d ir e cti o n o th er th an th e q ib la is la w fu l
w hen b ase d o n c o nje c tu re . It is s a id : “ T he m an w ho e rrs in p ers o nal ju dgm en t w ill
r e c eiv e o ne r e w ard , a n d t h e m an w ho i s r ig h t w il l r e ce iv e a d ouble r e w ard .” S o i t i s i n
a ll c ase s in volv in g p ers o nal e ffo rt. It is a ls o tr u e in th e c a se o f p ay in g th e le g al a lm s
t o a p oor m an . F or b y h is p ers o nal ju dgm en t o ne m ay ju dge th e m an to b e p oor,
w here as h e is re ally ric h , b ut n ot o utw ard ly b ecau se h e h id es h is w ealth . A m an s o
j u dgin g w ill not be bla m ed fo r it, ev en th ough he has erre d , becau se he is
b la m ew orth y o nly fo r w hat g iv es ris e to h is p ers o nal o pin io n. If o ur o pponen t s a y s:
“ H is a d vers a ry ’s o pin io n i s a s g o od a s h is ,” w e r e p ly : “ h e i s c o m m an ded to f o llo w h is
o w n p ers o nal o pin io n, ju st a s th e m an e x erc is in g p ers o nal ju dgm en t a b out th e q ib la
m ust fo llo w h is o w n o pin io n, e v en th ough o th ers d is a g re e w it h h im .” H e m ay th en
s a y : “ T he s e rv ile c o nfo rm is t f o llo w s th e o pin io n o f A b H an f a o r a l- S h f ‘ — G od’s
m erc y o n b oth o f th em ! — o r o f so m eo ne els e .” I re p ly : “H ow sh ould a se rv ile
c o nfo rm is t w ho is co nfu se d ab out th e qib la act w hen th ose ex erc is in g pers o nal
j u dgm en t d is a g re e a b out it ? ” H e w il l th en s a y : “ It is u p to h im to e x erc is e p ers o nal
j u dgm en t in fin din g th e m an best quali f ie d an d m ost know le d geab le ab out th e
i n dic atio ns o f th e q ib la , a n d th en h e m ust f o llo w th at p ers o nal ju dgm en t.” T he s a m e
i s t r u e r e g ard in g t h e v ario us s c h ools .
6 7. The p ro phets a n d re lig io us le a d ers re fe rre d m en to th e e x erc is e o f p ers o nal
j u dgm en t, an d nec essa ril y so , desp ite th eir know le d ge th at m en m ig ht err. T he
A postle o f G od — G od’s b le ss in g a n d p ea ce b e u pon h im ! — e v en s a id : “ I ju dge b y
e x te rn als , b ut G od u nderta k es to ju dge th e h earts o f m en .” T his m ean s: “I ju dge
a c co rd in g to th e m ost p ro bab le o pin io n re su lti n g fro m th e w itn esse s’ s ta te m en ts , b u t
t h ey m ay e rr a b out t h e m atte r.” T he p ro phets h ad n o w ay t o b e s a fe f ro m e rro r i n s u ch
c a se s i n volv in g p ers o nal j u dgm en t; h ow , t h en , c an a n yo ne e ls e a sp ir e t o s u ch s a fe ty ? AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 16
6 8. At th is poin t th e T a‘lim ite s ra is e tw o dif fic u lt ie s. O ne of th em is th eir
s ta te m en t: “ E ven th ough w hat y o u s a y m ay b e tr u e in c ase s o f fiq h [la w ] in volv in g
p ers o nal ju dgm en t, it is n ot tr u e re g ard in g th e b asic a rtic le s o f b elie f. F or o ne w ho
e rrs in th ese is in ex cu sa b le . H ow , th en , c an o ne fin d a w ay to s a fe ty fr o m e rro r in
t h ese m atte rs ? ” I r e p ly : “ T he b asic a rti c le s o f b elie f a re c o nta in ed i n t h e B ook a n d t h e
S unna, a n d w hat i s b ey o nd t h at i s a m atte r o f d eta il. A nyo ne e n gag ed i n d is p ute a b ou t
a fu rth er m att e r o f d eta il w ill fin d th e tr u th a b out it b y w eig h in g it in “ th e c o rre ct
b ala n ce ,” v iz . th e s c ale s m en ti o ned b y G od M ost H ig h in H is B ook. T hese a re th e
f iv e w hic h I h av e m en tio ned i n T he B ook o f t h e C orr e c t B ala nce.
6 9. The ad vers a ry m ay sa y : “Y our opponen ts dis a g re e w ith yo u ab out th at
b ala n ce .” I re p ly : “ It is in co nceiv ab le th at a n yo ne u nders ta n d th at b ala n ce a n d th en
d is a g re e a b out i t . F or t h e T a‘l m it e s w il l n ot d is a g re e a b out i t , b eca u se I h av e d ed uced
i t f ro m th e Q ur’ n a n d le a rn ed it th ere fro m . N or w ill th e lo gic ia n s d is a g re e a b out it ,
b ec au se it a cc o rd s w ith th e c o ndit io ns th ey la y d ow n in lo gic w ith out c la sh in g w it h
t h em . N or w il l t h e m uta ka lli m d is a g re e a b out i t, b ec au se i t a g re es w ith h is s ta te m en ts
o n th e p ro ofs o f s p ecu la ti v e m atte rs b y w hic h th e tr u th in k a l m q uesti o ns b eco m es
k now n.”
7 0. My a d vers a ry m ay s a y : “ If y o u h av e s u ch a b ala n ce a t y o ur d is p osa l, t h en w hy
d o y o u n ot re m ove th e d is a g re em en t e x is tin g a m ong m en ?” I re p ly : “ W ere th ey to
h ea rk en to m e, I w ould re m ove th e d is a g re e m en t a m ong th em ! M ore o ver, I h av e
m en tio ned th e w ay to re m ove d is a g re e m en t in T he B ook o f th e C orre ct B ala nce : s o
s tu dy it th at y o u m ay k now t h at it is tr u e a n d w ould d efin ite ly a b olis h d is a g re e m en t i f
o nly m en w ould h ea rk en ! B ut th ey — a ll o f th em ! — w il l n ot h eark en ! O r ra th er,
s o m e d id h ea rk en to m e, a n d I d id re m ove th e d is a g re em en t e x is ti n g a m ong th em .
F urth erm ore , y o ur Im am w an ts to b an is h d is a g re em en t fro m am ong th em , d esp ite
t h eir f a ilu re to h ea rk en : w hy, t h en , h as h e n ot d one t h is u p to n ow ? A nd w hy d id ‘ A li
— G od b e p le a se d w ith h im ! — n ot d o th at, s in ce h e w as th e f ir s t a n d g re ate st o f th e
I m am s? D oes th e I m m in deed c la im th at h e c a n f o rc ib ly in duce m en to h eark en ? I f
s o , th en w hy h as h e n ot d one th at u p to n ow ? A nd to w hat d ay h as h e d efe rre d it?
A nd has an yth in g re su lt e d am ong m en fro m th e Im am ’s cla im but in cre asin g
d is a g re em en t a n d th e g ro w in g n um ber o f m en a t v aria n ce? S ure ly it w as to b e f e are d
t h at d is a g re em en t w ould re su lt in a k in d o f h urt th at w ould f in ally e n d in b lo odsh ed ,
d ev asta ti o n o f to w ns, o rp han in g o f c h il d re n , b rig an dag e, a n d p lu nderin g o f p ro perty .
A nd i n deed , a s a r e su lt o f t h e “ b le ssin gs” o f y o ur d oin g a w ay w it h d is a g re em en t, t h ere
h as h ap pen ed i n t h e w orld a d is a g re e m en t, t h e l i k e o f w hic h h as n ev er b een k now n!”
7 1. He m ay sa y : “Y ou hav e cla im ed th at yo u can re m ove th e dis a g re em en t
e x is tin g a m ong m en . B ut h e w ho sta n ds p erp le x ed b etw een c o nfli c ti n g v ie w s a n d
o pposin g d if fe re n ces i s n ot b ound to li s te n t o y o u r a th er t h an t o y o ur a d vers a ry . M ost
o f th e ad vers a rie s d is a g re e w ith yo u, an d th ere is n o d if fe re n ce b etw een y o u an d
t h em !” T his is th eir s e c o nd d iff ic u lty , a n d I re p ly : “ F ir s t o f a ll th is o bje cti o n m ay b e
r e to rte d a g ain st y o u. F or w hen y o u in vit e th e p erp le x ed p ers o n to li s te n to y o u, h e
m ay s a y : ‘W hy a re y o u a n y b ette r th an th ose w ho o ppose y o u — a n d m ost s c h ola rs
d is a g re e w it h y o u?’ I w onder h ow y o u w ould a n sw er! W ould y o u a n sw er b y s a y in g:
‘ M y I m m h as b een e x plic itl y d esig n ate d ’? B ut w ho w ill b elie v e y o u i n y o ur c la im o f
e x plic it d esig n ati o n, s in ce h e h as n ot h ea rd th e e x plic it d esig n ati o n f ro m th e A postl e ?
A ll h e h ears is y o ur c la im , a cc o m pan ie d a s it is b y th e s c h ola rs ’ a g re em en t o n y o u r
f o rg ery a n d l y in g.
7 2. “B ut g ra n t t h at h e c o nce d es t o y o u t h e e x plic it d esig n atio n o f y o ur I m m . I f h e
i s th en p erp le x ed a b out th e b asis o f p ro pheth ood a n d s a y s: ‘ A dm itt e d th at y o ur I m m
a d duces th e m ir a cle o f J e su s — P eac e b e u pon h im !’ a n d a v ers : ‘T he p ro of o f m y
v era city is th at I s h all b rin g b ack to lif e y o ur d ead fa th er.’ T hen h e a ctu ally d oes s o AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 17
a n d d ec la re s to m e t h at h e is i n th e r ig h t. Y et h ow d o I k now h is v era city ? F or n ot a ll
m en re co gn iz ed th e v era city o f Je su s — P ea ce b e u pon h im ! — b y v ir tu e o f th is
m ir a cle . O n t h e c o ntr a ry , t h e m atte r w as b ese t w ith c erta in d if fic u ltie s w hic h c o uld b e
a n sw ere d only by su btle in te ll e ctu al re aso nin g. B ut in yo ur vie w in te ll e ctu al
r e a so nin g is n ot to b e tr u ste d . M ore o ver, o ne c a n not k now th at a m ir a c le p ro ves a
p ro phet’ s v era cit y u nle ss h e a ls o k now s m ag ic a n d h ow t o d is ti n gu is h b etw een i t a n d a
m ir a cle , a n d u nle ss h e k now s th at G od is n ot le ad in g H is s e rv an ts a str a y — a n d th e
p ro ble m o f “ le a d in g a str a y ” a n d th e d if fic u lt y o f f o rm ula tin g a n a cc u ra te a n sw er to it
a re n oto rio us.’ H ow , th en , w ould y o u r e fu se a ll th at, s in ce y o ur I m am is n o w orth ie r
o f b ein g f o ll o w ed t h an h is o pponen t? ”
7 3. Then h e w ill g o b ack to th e ra tio nal p ro ofs o f w hic h h e d is a p pro ves, a n d h is
a d vers a ry w ill a d duce s im ila r, a n d e v en c le a re r, p ro ofs . A nd th us th is d if fic u lty h as
i n deed b een re to rte d a g ain st th em in s u ch a p ow erfu l w ay th at, w ere th ey to u nite ,
f ro m f ir s t t o l a st, t o g iv e s o m e a n sw er t o i t, t h ey w ould b e u nab le t o d o s o .
7 4. This tr o uble h as a ris e n s im ply fro m a g ro up o f in effe ctu al m en w ho d is p ute d
w ith th em , n ot b y u sin g th e m eth od o f re to rt, b ut b y atte m ptin g to g iv e a d ir e ct
a n sw er. T he la tte r c a lls f o r le n gth y d is c u ssio n a n d d oes n ot q uic k ly r e a ch m in ds, n o r
i s i t s u ita b le f o r s ile n cin g a d vers a rie s.
7 5. Som e m ay s a y : “ T his is th e a rg u m en t b y r e to rt: b ut is th ere a r e aso ned a n sw er
t o th eir c la im ?” I re p ly : “ C erta in ly ! T he a n sw er to it is th at, w ere th e p erp le x ed
p ers o n to s a y th at h e is p erp le x ed , w ith out s p ecif y in g th e p ro ble m a b out w hic h h e is
p erp le x ed , o ne s h ould s a y to h im : ‘Y ou a re lik e a s ic k m an w ho s a y s th at h e is s ic k ,
b ut d oes n ot s p ec if y h is ill n ess, a n d y et r e q uests a r e m ed y f o r it.’ ” H e s h ould b e to ld
t h at th ere e x is ts n o c u re f o r s ic k ness in g en era l, b ut o nly f o r a s p ecif ic s ic k ness s u ch
a s a h ead ach e o r an atta ck o f d ia rrh oea o r so m e th in g els e . L ik ew is e , th en , th e
p erp le x ed p ers o n m ust s p ecif y w hat p erp le x es h im . If h e s p ecif ie s th e p ro ble m , y o u
t h en in fo rm h im o f th e tr u th a b out it b y w eig h in g th e m atte r w ith th e f iv e s c ale s. N o
o ne u nders ta n ds t h ese w ith out a ls o a c k now le d gin g t h at t h is i s t h e t r u e b ala n ce a n d t h at
o ne can hav e co nfid en ce in w hate v er is w eig h ed in it . S o le t th is bala n ce be
u nders to od, th en o ne w ill a ls o u nders ta n d th e s o undness o f w eig h in g w ith it , ju st a s
t h e stu den t o f arith m etic u nders ta n ds arith m eti c its e lf as w ell as th e fa ct th at h is
a rith m etic te ach er k now s a rit h m etic a n d t e ac h es it c o rr e ctly . I h av e a lr e ad y e x pla in ed
a ll t h at in T he B ook o f t h e C orre ct B ala nce in t h e c o m pass o f t w en ty f o lia : s o l e t it b e
s tu die d t h ere .
7 6. My p re se n t a im is n ot to sh ow th e w ro ngn ess o f th eir d octr in e, fo r I h av e
a lr e a d y d one th at: (1 ) in m y b ook a l- M usta zh ir ; (2 ) in m y b ook T he P ro of o f th e
T ru th , a n a n sw er to s o m e o f th eir a rg u m en ts p ro pose d to m e in B ag h dad ; (3 ) in m y
b ook T he D eta il e d E xp osit io n o f th e D is a gre em en t, w hic h c o nta in s tw elv e s e ctio ns,
a n d is a r e p ly to a rg u m en ts p ro pose d to m e in H am ad h n ; ( 4 ) in m y b ook a l- D urj a l-
m arq m b il- ja d w l, w hic h d eals w ith s o m e fe e b le a rg u m en ts o f th eir s p ro pose d to
m e in T s; (5 ) in m y b ook T he C orr e c t B ala nce , an in dep en den t w ork aim ed at
e x pla in in g th e sc ale fo r w eig h in g know le d ge an d sh ow in g th at he w ho fu lly
u nders ta n ds i t h as n o n ee d o f a n i n fa llib le I m m .
7 7. Rath er, m y m ain p oin t h ere is th at th e T a‘li m it e s h av e n o c u re w hic h s a v es
a n yo ne fro m th e d ark nesse s o f c o nflic tin g o pin io ns. O n th e c o ntr a ry , d esp ite th eir
i n ab ili ty to e sta b lis h a s o und p ro of o f th e d esig n ati o n o f th e I m m , f o r s o m e tim e w e
w en t alo ng w ith th em a n d a sse n te d to th eir a ss e rtio n o f th e n ee d fo r au th orita tiv e
t e ach in g a n d a n in fa ll ib le te ach er, a n d w e a g re ed th at h e w as th e o ne s p ec if ie d . T hen
w e q uestio ned th em ab out th e lo re th ey h ad le arn ed fro m th is in fa llib le o ne an d
p ro pose d to th em s o m e p ro ble m s. T hese th ey d id n ot u nders ta n d, to s a y n oth in g o f
a tte m ptin g to s o lv e th em ! T hen , w hen th ey w ere u nab le to d o s o , th ey r e fe rre d to th e AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 18
h id den Im m a n d s a id : “ T here is n o a lte rn ativ e to m ak in g th e jo urn ey to h im .” T he
a m az in g th in g is th at th ey w aste th eir lif e in s e ek in g th e a u th orita tiv e te a ch er a n d in
b oasti n g o f h av in g f o und h im , y et t h ey h av e l e a rn ed n oth in g a t a ll f ro m h im ! T hey a re
l i k e a m an s m ea re d w ith filth w ho w earie s h im se lf lo okin g fo r w ate r: th en , w hen h e
f in ds i t, h e d oes n ot u se i t , b ut r e m ain s s m ea re d w ith f o uln ess!
7 8. Am ong th em w as o ne w ho cla im ed to k now so m e o f th eir lo re . B ut th e
s u bsta n ce o f w hat h e m en ti o ned w as a b it o f t h e f e e b le p hil o so phy o f P yth ag o ra s. T he
l a tte r w as o ne o f t h e e arly a n cie n ts , a n d h is d octr in e i s t h e f e e b le st o f a ll p hilo so phic al
d octr in es. A ris to tl e h ad a lr e ad y re fu te d h im a n d h ad e v en re g ard ed h is te a ch in g a s
w eak a n d c o nte m pti b le . Y et th is is w hat is fo ll o w ed in th e b ook o f th e B re th re n o f
P urity , a n d it is re a lly th e re fu se o f p hilo so phy. O ne c an o nly m arv el a t a m an w ho
s p en ds a w eary li f e ti m e in th e q uest fo r k now le d ge a n d th en is c o nte n t w it h su ch
f la cc id a n d t h in s tu ff! Y et h e t h in ks h e h as a tta in ed t h e u tm ost r e a ch es o f k now le d ge!
7 9. These als o w e hav e te ste d th oro ugh ly an d pro bed in sid e an d out. T he
s u bsta n ce o f th eir d octr in e c o m es d ow n to d eceiv in g th e c o m mon fo lk a n d th e d im -
w itt e d b y s h ow in g t h e n eed f o r t h e a u th orit a ti v e t e ac h er, a n d t o d is p utin g m en ’s d en ia l
o f th e n eed fo r a u th orit a ti v e te ach in g b y s tr o ng a n d e ffe ctiv e a rg u m en t. S o it g o es
u nti l s o m eo ne t r ie s t o h elp t h em a b out t h e n eed f o r t h e a u th orit a ti v e t e ac h er b y s a y in g:
“ G iv e u s so m e o f h is lo re a n d a cq uain t u s w ith so m e o f h is te ac h in g!” T hen th e
d is p uta n t p au se s a n d s a y s: “ N ow th at y o u h av e c o nce d ed to m e th at m uch , d o y o u
s e ek h im fo r y o urs e lf ! F or m y a im w as to te ll y o u o nly th is m uch .” F or h e k now s
t h at, w ere h e t o a d d a n yth in g m ore , h e w ould b e p ut to s h am e a n d w ould b e u nab le t o
s o lv e th e s im ple st p ro ble m . N ay , b ut h e w ould b e u nab le to u nders ta n d it , le t a lo ne
g iv e a n a n sw er t o i t!
This , th en , is th e tr u e n atu re o f th eir s itu atio n. S o tr y th em , a n d y o u w il l h ate
t h em ! T hus, w hen w e h ad h ad e x perie n ce o f th em , w e a ls o w ash ed o ur h an ds o f
t h em !
Dis c u ssio n o f t h e W ays o f t h e S ufi s
8 0. When I h ad f in is h ed w it h a ll th ose k in ds o f lo re , I b ro ugh t m y m in d t o b ea r o n
t h e w ay o f th e S ufis . I k new th at th eir p artic u la r W ay i s c o nsu m mate d [ re ali z ed ] o nly
b y k now le d ge a n d b y a cti v ity [ b y th e u nio n o f th eo ry a n d p ra c tic e]. T he a im o f th eir
k now le d ge is to lo p o ff th e o bsta cle s p re se n t in th e so ul a n d to rid o nese lf o f it s
r e p re h en sib le h ab its a n d v ic io us q ualit ie s i n o rd er t o a tt a in t h ere b y a h eart e m pty o f a ll
s a v e G od a n d a d orn ed w it h t h e c o nsta n t r e m em bra n ce o f G od.
8 1. Theo ry w as e asie r fo r m e th an p ra c tic e. T here fo re I b eg an to le arn th eir lo re
f ro m th e p eru sa l o f th eir b ooks, s u ch a s T he F ood o f H ea rts b y A b T lib a l- M ak k
( G od’s m erc y be upon him !) an d th e w rit in gs of al- H rith al- M uh sib , an d th e
m is c ell a n eo us ite m s h an ded d ow n fro m a l- J u nay d a n d a l- S hib l a n d A b Y az d a l-
B is t m (G od h allo w th eir s p ir its ) a n d o th ers o f th eir m aste rs . A s a re su lt I c am e to
k now th e c o re o f th eir th eo re tic a l a im s a n d I le arn ed a ll th at c o uld b e le arn ed o f th eir
w ay b y s tu dy a n d h ea rin g.
8 2. Then it bec am e cle a r to m e th at th eir m ost dis tin ctiv e ch ara cte ris ti c is
s o m eth in g th at c a n b e a tt a in ed , n ot b y s tu dy, b ut ra th er b y fru itio nal e x perie n ce a n d
t h e s ta te o f e csta sy a n d “ th e e x ch an ge o f q ualit ie s.” H ow g re a t a d if fe re n ce th ere is
b etw een y o ur k n ow in g th e d efin iti o ns a n d c au se s a n d c o ndit io ns o f h ealt h a n d s a tie ty
a n d y o ur b ein g h ealt h y a n d s a te d ! A nd h ow g re at a d if fe re n ce th ere is b etw ee n y o u r
k now in g th e d efin iti o n o f d ru nken ness — v iz ., th at it is a te rm d en oti n g a sta te
r e su lt in g f ro m th e p re d om in an ce o f v ap ors w hic h r is e f ro m t h e s to m ach to th e c en te rs
o f th ough t — a n d y o ur a c tu ally b ein g d ru nk! In deed , a d ru nken m an , w hile h e is
d ru nk, does not know th e defin it io n an d co ncep t of dru nken ness an d has no AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 19
k now le d ge of it. B ut a physic ia n know s th e defin iti o n an d th e ele m en ts of
d ru nken ness , th ough h e is ex perie n cin g n o actu al d ru nken ness . S o als o , w hen a
p hysic ia n is ill, h e k now s th e d efin itio n a n d c a u se s o f h ealth a n d th e r e m ed ie s w hic h
p ro cu re it , th ough h e is th en ac tu ally b ere ft o f h ealth . S im ila rly , to o, th ere is a
d if fe re n ce betw ee n yo ur know in g th e tr u e natu re an d co ndit io ns an d cau se s of
a sc e tic is m a n d y o ur a c tu ally p ra ctic in g a sc etic is m a n d p ers o nally s h unnin g th e th in gs
o f t h is w orld .
8 3. I k new w ith c e rta in ty th at th e S ufis w ere m aste rs o f s ta te s, n ot p urv ey o rs o f
w ord s, a n d t h at I h ad le a rn ed a ll I c o uld b y w ay o f t h eo ry . T here r e m ain ed , t h en , o nly
w hat w as atta in ab le , not by hearin g an d stu dy, but by fru itio nal ex perie n ce an d
a c tu ally en gag in g in th e w ay . F ro m th e sc ie n ces w hic h I h ad p ra c tic ed an d th e
m eth ods w hic h I had fo ll o w ed in m y in quir y in to th e tw o kin ds of know le d ge,
r e v eale d a n d ra tio nal, I h ad a lr e a d y a cq uir e d a su re a n d c erta in fa ith in G od M ost
H ig h , in th e p ro pheti c m ed ia tio n o f re v ela tio n, an d in th e L ast D ay . T hese th re e
f u ndam en ta ls o f o ur F aith h ad b eco m e d ee p ly ro ote d in m y s o ul, n ot b eca u se o f a n y
s p ecif ic , p re cis e ly fo rm ula te d p ro ofs , b ut b ecau se o f re a so ns a n d c ir c u m sta n ces a n d
e x perie n ces t o o m an y t o l is t i n d eta il.
8 4. It h ad a lr e a d y b eco m e c le a r to m e th at m y o nly h ope o f a tt a in in g b ea tit u de in
t h e a fte rlif e la y in p ie ty a n d re str a in in g m y s o ul fro m p assio n. T he b eg in nin g o f a ll
t h at, I k new , w as to s e v er m y h eart’ s a tta ch m en t to th e w orld b y w it h dra w in g fro m
t h is a b ode o f d elu sio n a n d tu rn in g to th e m an sio n o f i m morta li ty a n d d ev otin g m yse lf
w ith to ta l a rd or t o G od M ost H ig h . T hat, I k new , c o uld b e a ch ie v ed o nly b y s h unnin g
f a m e a n d f o rtu ne a n d f le e in g f ro m m y p re o ccu patio ns a n d a tt a ch m en ts .
8 5. Nex t I a tte n tiv ely c o nsid ere d m y c ir c u m sta n ce s, a n d I s a w t h at I w as i m mers e d
i n att a ch m en ts w hic h h ad en co m pass e d m e fro m all sid es. I als o co nsid ere d m y
a c tiv itie s — t h e b est o f t h em b ein g p ublic a n d p riv ate i n str u cti o n — a n d t h at i n t h em I
w as a p ply in g m yse lf to sc ie n ces u nim porta n t a n d u se le ss in th is p il g rim ag e to th e
h ere afte r. T hen I re fle cte d o n m y in te n tio n in m y p ublic te a ch in g, a n d I s a w th at it
w as n ot d ir e cte d p ure ly to G od, b ut ra th er w as in stig ate d a n d m oti v ate d b y th e q uest
f o r fa m e a n d w id esp re a d p re stig e. S o I b eca m e c e rta in th at I w as o n th e b rin k o f a
c ru m blin g b an k a n d a lr e a d y o n th e v erg e o f fa llin g in to th e F ir e , u nle ss I s e t a b ou t
m en din g m y w ay s.
8 6. I th ere fo re re fle c te d unceasin gly on th is fo r so m e tim e, w hil e I stil l had
f re e d om o f c h oic e . O ne d ay I w ould fir m ly re so lv e to le av e B ag h dad a n d d is e n gag e
m yse lf fro m th ose c ir c u m sta n ces, a n d a n oth er d ay I w ould re v oke m y re so lu tio n. I
w ould p ut o ne f o ot f o rw ard , a n d th e o th er b ac k w ard . In th e m orn in g I w ould h av e a
s in ce re d esir e to s e ek th e th in gs o f th e a fte rlif e : b ut b y e v en in g th e h osts o f p ass io n
w ould a ss a il i t a n d r e n der i t l u kew arm . M undan e d esir e s b eg an t u ggin g m e w ith t h eir
c h ain s to re m ain a s I w as, w hile th e h era ld o f f a it h w as c ry in g o ut: “ A way ! U p a n d
a w ay ! O nly a litt le is le ft o f y o ur lif e , a n d a lo ng jo urn ey lie s b efo re y o u! A ll th e
t h eo ry a n d p ra cti c e i n w hic h y o u a re e n gro ss e d i s e y ese rv ic e a n d f a k ery ! I f y o u d o n o t
p re p are n ow fo r th e a fte rlif e , w hen w ill y o u d o so ? A nd if y o u d o n ot s e v er th ese
a tta c h m en ts n ow , t h en w hen w il l y o u s e v er t h em ?”
8 7. At s u ch t h ough ts t h e c a ll w ould r e asse rt i ts e lf a n d I w ould m ak e a n i r re v oca b le
d ec is io n t o r u n o ff a n d e sc ap e. T hen S ata n w ould r e tu rn t o t h e a tta c k a n d s a y : “ T his i s
a p assin g s ta te : b ew are , th en , o f y ie ld in g to it! F or it w il l q uic k ly v an is h . O nce y o u
h av e g iv en in to it a n d g iv en u p y o ur p re se n t r e n ow n a n d s p le n did p ositi o n f re e f ro m
v ex atio n a n d re n ounced y o ur se c u re situ atio n u ntr o uble d b y th e c o nte n tio n o f y o u r
a d vers a rie s, y o ur s o ul m ig h t a g ain lo ok lo ngin gly a t a ll th at — b ut it w ould n ot b e
e a sy t o r e tu rn t o i t ! ” AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 20
8 8. Thus I in ce ss a n tly v acilla te d b etw een th e c o nte n din g p ull o f w orld ly d esir e s
a n d th e a p peals o f th e a fte rlif e fo r a b out s ix m onth s, s ta rtin g w it h R aja b o f th e y ea r
4 88 (J u ly , 1 095 A .D .) . In th is m onth th e m att e r p asse d fro m c h oic e to c o m puls io n .
F or G od p ut a lo ck u pon m y to ngu e s o th at I w as im ped ed fro m p ubli c te ach in g. I
s tr u ggle d w ith m yse lf to te ac h fo r a s in gle d ay , to g ra ti f y th e h earts o f th e s tu den ts
w ho w ere f re q uen tin g m y le c tu re s, b ut m y t o ngu e w ould n ot u tt e r a s in gle w ord : I w as
c o m ple te ly u nab le t o s a y a n yth in g. A s a r e su lt t h at i m ped im en t o f m y s p ee ch c au se d a
s a d ness in m y h eart a c co m pan ie d b y a n in ab ilit y to d ig est; fo od a n d d rin k b eca m e
u npala ta b le to m e s o th at I c o uld n eit h er s w allo w b ro th e asil y n or d ig est a m outh fu l o f
s o lid f o od. T hat le d to s u ch a w ea k en in g o f m y p ow ers th at th e p hysic ia n s lo st h ope
o f tr e ati n g m e a n d s a id : “ T his is s o m eth in g w hic h h as s e tt le d in h is h ea rt a n d c re p t
f ro m it in to h is h um ors ; th ere is n o w ay to tr e a t it u nle ss h is h eart b e e ase d o f th e
a n x ie ty w hic h h as v is ite d i t .”
8 9. Then , w hen I p erc eiv ed m y p ow erle ss n ess, a n d w hen m y c ap acit y to m ak e a
c h oic e h ad c o m ple te ly c o lla p se d , I h ad re co urs e to G od M ost H ig h a s d oes a h ard
p re sse d m an w ho h as n o w ay o ut o f h is d if fic u lt y . A nd I w as a n sw ere d b y H im W ho
“ a n sw ers th e n ee d y m an w hen h e c a lls o n H im ” (2 7.6 3/6 2), a n d H e m ad e it e asy f o r
m y h ea rt to tu rn aw ay fro m fa m e an d fo rtu ne, fa m il y , ch il d re n , a n d asso cia te s. I
a n nounced th at I h ad re so lv ed to le a v e fo r M ecc a, a ll th e w hile p la n nin g s e c re tly to
t r a v el to S yria . T his I d id as a p re cau tio n, le st th e C alip h an d th e g ro up o f m y
a sso cia te s m ig h t le arn o f m y re so lv e to s e tt le in D am asc u s. T here fo re I m ad e c le v er
u se o f s u btle s tr a ta g em s a b out le av in g B ag h dad , w hil e f ir m ly r e so lv ed n ev er to r e tu rn
t o it. I w as m uch t a lk ed a b out b y th e r e li g io us l e ad ers o f t h e I r a q is , s in ce n one a m ong
t h em c o uld a ll o w th at g iv in g u p m y c are er h ad a re lig io us m otiv e. F or th ey th ough t
t h at m y p ost w as th e h ig h est d ig n ity in o ur r e lig io n — a n d “ th at w as t h e f a rth est lim it
t h ey h ad a tta in ed i n l e a rn in g!” ( 5 3.3 1/3 0).
9 0. There u pon peo ple go t in volv ed in dev is in g ex pla n ati o ns of m y co nduct.
T hose a t s o m e d is ta n ce f ro m Ir a q th ough t I w as a ctin g s o b ec au se I w as a fra id o f th e
a u th oriti e s. B ut th ose c lo se to th e a u th oritie s, w ho s a w th eir a tt a ch m en t a n d d ev otio n
t o m e, a n d h ow I s h unned th em a n d p aid n o a tte n tio n to w hat th ey s a id , w ere s a y in g:
“ T his is s o m eth in g s u pern al: it s o nly c au se i s a n e v il e y e w hic h h as a fflic te d M uslim s
a n d t h e c o te rie o f t h e l e arn ed !”
9 1. I d ep arte d fro m B ag h dad a fte r I h ad d is tr ib ute d w hat w ea lth I h ad , la y in g b y
o nly t h e a m ount n eed ed f o r m y s u pport a n d t h e s u ste n an ce o f m y c h ild re n . M y e x cu se
f o r th at w as th at th e m oney o f Ir a q w as ea rm ark ed fo r th e w elf a re o f th e p eo ple ,
b ec au se i t w as a p io us b eq uest i n f a v or o f M uslim s. N ow here i n t h e w orld h av e I s e en
a m ore b en efic ia l arra n gem en t re g ard in g m oney w hic h th e sc h ola r c an u se fo r h is
f a m ily .
9 2. Then I e n te re d D am asc u s a n d re sid ed th ere fo r n ea rly tw o y ears . M y o nly
o cc u pati o n w as s e clu sio n a n d s o litu de a n d s p ir itu al e x erc is e a n d c o m bat w ith a v ie w
t o d ev otin g m yse lf to th e p urif ic atio n o f m y so ul a n d th e c u lt iv atio n o f v ir tu es a n d
c le an sin g m y h eart f o r th e r e m em bra n ce o f G od M ost H ig h , in th e w ay I h ad le arn ed
f ro m th e w rit in gs o f th e S ufis . I u se d to p ra y in s e c lu sio n f o r a tim e in th e M osq ue,
m ountin g to its m in are t fo r th e w hole d ay a n d s h utt in g m yse lf in . T hen I tr a v ele d
f ro m D am asc u s to J e ru sa le m , w here I w ould g o d ail y in to th e D om e o f th e R ock a n d
s h ut m yse lf in . T hen I w as in w ard ly m oved b y a n u rg e to p erfo rm th e d uty o f th e
p il g rim ag e a n d to d ra w s u cco r f ro m th e b le ssin gs o f M ecca a n d M ed in a a n d th e v is it
t o th e to m b o f th e A postl e o f G od — G od’s b le ssin g a n d p ea ce b e u pon h im ! — a fte r
f in is h in g m y v is it t o t h e F rie n d o f G od — G od’s b le ssin gs a n d p eac e b e u pon h im ! S o
I t r a v ele d t o t h e H ij z. AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 21
9 3. Then c erta in c o ncern s a n d th e a p pea ls o f m y c h il d re n d re w m e to m y n ativ e
l a n d; s o I c am e b ac k to it a fte r b ein g th e p ers o n m ost u nlik ely to r e tu rn to it . T here I
a ls o c h ose s e clu sio n o ut o f a d esir e f o r s o lit u de a n d t h e p urif ic a tio n o f m y h eart f o r t h e
r e m em bra n ce o f G od. B ut c u rre n t e v en ts a n d im porta n t fa m il y m atte rs a n d g ain in g
t h e n ec essitie s fo r d aily liv in g h ad an effe ct o n th e w ay to re aliz e m y d esir e an d
t r o uble d th e se re n ity o f m y so litu de, an d th e p ure sta te o f ecsta sy o ccu rre d o nly
i n te rm itte n tly . B ut n oneth ele ss I d id n ot c ea se to a sp ir e to it. O bsta cle s w ould k eep
m e a w ay f ro m i t, b ut I w ould r e tu rn t o i t.
9 4. For te n y ears I re m ain ed in th at c o nditi o n. In th e c o urs e o f th ose p erio ds o f
s o lit u de th in gs im poss ib le to e n um era te o r d eta il in d ep th w ere d is c lo se d to m e. T his
m uch I s h all m en tio n, t h at p ro fit m ay b e d eriv ed f ro m i t : I k new w ith c erta in ty t h at t h e
S ufis a re th ose w ho u niq uely f o llo w th e w ay to G od M ost H ig h , th eir m ode o f li f e is
t h e b est o f a ll, th eir w ay th e m ost d ir e c t o f w ay s, a n d th eir e th ic th e p ure st. In dee d ,
w ere o ne to c o m bin e th e in sig h t o f th e in te lle c tu als , th e w is d om o f th e w is e , a n d th e
l o re o f s c h ola rs v ers e d in th e m yste rie s o f r e v ela ti o n in o rd er to c h an ge a s in gle it e m
o f S ufi c o nduct a n d e th ic a n d to re p la c e it w ith so m eth in g b ett e r, n o w ay to d o so
w ould b e fo und! F or all th eir m oti o ns an d q uie sc e n ces, ex te rio r a n d in te rio r, are
l e arn ed fro m th e lig ht o f th e n ic h e o f p ro phecy . A nd b ey o nd th e lig h t o f p ro phecy
t h ere i s n o l ig h t o n e arth f ro m w hic h i l lu m in ati o n c a n b e o bta in ed .
9 5. In g en era l, h ow c an m en d esc rib e s u ch a w ay a s th is ? I ts p urit y — th e f ir s t o f
i t s re q uir e m en ts — is th e to ta l p urif ic ati o n o f th e h eart fro m e v ery th in g o th er th an
G od M ost H ig h . I ts k ey , w hic h i s a n alo gous t o t h e b eg in nin g o f t h e P ra y er, i s t h e u tte r
a b so rp ti o n o f th e h eart i n th e r e m em bra n ce o f G od. I ts e n d i s b ein g c o m ple te ly l o st i n
G od. B ut th e la tte r is its e n d w ith r e fe re n ce to its in itia l s ta g es w hic h ju st b are ly f a ll
u nder t h e p ow er o f c h oic e a n d p ers o nal a c q uis itio n. B ut t h ese a re r e a lly t h e b eg in nin g
o f th e W ay , a n d e v ery th in g p rio r to it is lik e a n a n te c h am ber f o r h im w ho f o llo w s th e
p ath t o i t .
9 6. Fro m th e v ery sta rt o f th e W ay re v ela ti o ns a n d v is io ns b eg in , so th at, e v en
w hen a w ak e, th e S ufis s e e th e a n gels a n d th e s p ir its o f th e p ro phets a n d h ea r v oic e s
c o m in g f ro m t h em a n d l e a rn u se fu l t h in gs f ro m t h em . T hen t h eir “ sta te ” a sc e n ds f ro m
t h e v is io n o f fo rm s a n d lik en esse s to s ta g es b ey o nd th e n arro w ra n ge o f w ord s: s o if
a n yo ne tr ie s to e x pre ss th em , h is w ord s c o nta in e v id en t e rro r a g ain st w hic h h e c an no t
g u ard h im se lf . B ut s p ea k in g in g en era l, th e m atte r c o m es u lt im ate ly to a c lo se n ess to
G od w hic h o ne g ro up a lm ost c o nce iv es o f a s “ in dw ell in g,” a n d a n oth er a s “ u nio n,”
a n d a n oth er a s “ re ach in g”: b ut a ll th at is w ro ng. W e h av e a lr e ad y s h ow n w hy it is
w ro ng in o ur b ook T he N oble st A im . B ut r e a lly o ne i n tim ate ly p oss e sse d b y th at s ta te
o ugh t n ot t o g o b ey o nd s a y in g:
There w as w hat w as o f w hat I d o n ot m en ti o n:
S o t h in k w ell o f i t, a n d a sk f o r n o a cc o unt!
9 7. Gen era ll y s p eak in g, a n yo ne w ho is g ra n te d n oth in g o f th at th ro ugh fru iti o nal
e x perie n ce g ra sp s, o f th e re ali ty o f p ro phecy , o nly th e n am e. T he c h aris m a o f th e
“ sa in ts ” a re in re ality th e fir s t s ta g es p asse d th ro ugh b y th e p ro phets . S uch w as th e
i n itia l s ta te o f th e A postle o f G od — G od’s b le ssin g a n d p ea ce b e u pon h im ! — w hen
h e w en t to M ount H ir ’, w here h e w ould b e a lo ne w ith h is L ord a n d p erfo rm a cts o f
w ors h ip , s o th at th e A ra b s o f th e d ese rt s a id : “ M uham m ad in deed p ass io nate ly lo ves
h is L ord !”
9 8. This is a sta te w hic h one fo ll o w in g th e w ay le ad in g to it w ill verif y by
f ru it io nal e x perie n ce . B ut o ne to w hom s u ch e x perie n ce is n ot g ra n te d c an a c q uir e
c e rta in know le d ge of th at sta te th ro ugh ex perie n ce of oth ers an d hears a y , if he
f re q uen ts th e c o m pan y o f th e S ufis s o a s to h av e a s u re u nders ta n din g o f th at fro m
o bse rv in g th e c ir c u m sta n ces a c co m pan yin g th eir e c sta tic s ta te s. W hoev er a ss o cia te s AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 22
w ith th em w ill d eriv e th is fa ith fro m th em , fo r th ey a re th e m en w hose a sso cia te is
n ev er w re tc h ed . B ut w hoev er i s n ot f a v ore d w ith t h eir c o m pan y m ust l e a rn t h e c erta in
p ossib ili ty o f s u ch m ystic al s ta te s th ro ugh t h e e v id en ce o f a p odeic tic d em onstr a tio n i n
t h e w ay w e h av e m en tio ned in “ T he B ook o f th e M arv els o f th e H eart,” o ne o f th e
b ooks o f T he R eviv if ic a tio n o f t h e R eli g io us S cie n ces.
9 9. Asc erta in m en t b y a p odeic tic p ro of le ad s to k n ow le d ge. I n tim ate e x perie n ce o f
t h at v ery s ta te is fr u itio nal e xp erie n ce . F av ora b le a c cep ta n ce o f it b ase d o n h ears a y
a n d ex perie n ce of oth ers is fa it h . T hese , th en , are th re e deg re es, or le v els , of
k now le d ge — “ G od ra is e s in d eg re e s th ose o f y o u w ho b elie v e a n d th ose to w hom
k now le d ge i s g iv en ” ( 5 8.1 2/1 1).
1 00. In a d ditio n to th e m en w ith s u ch le v els o f k now le d ge th ere a re a n um ber o f
i g n ora n t m en w ho d en y its v ery fo undatio n a n d a re a sto nis h ed a t s u ch w ord s. T hey
l i s te n a n d s c o ff, s a y in g: “ E xtr a o rd in ary ! H ow t h ey r a v e!” O f s u ch a s t h ese G od M ost
H ig h s a id : “ A nd a m ong th em (in fid els ) a re th ose w ho li s te n to y o u, th en , w hen th ey
h av e le ft y o u, th ey s a y to th ose w ho h av e b een g iv en k now le d ge: ‘W hat d id h e ju st
s a y ?’ T hose a re m en w hose h earts G od h as s e ale d a n d w ho fo llo w th eir o w n v ain
d esir e s” ( 4 7.1 8/1 6) — s o G od r e n ders t h em d ea f a n d b li n ds t h eir e y es.
1 01. What b ecam e c le ar to m e o f n ece ss it y f ro m p ra ctic in g th eir W ay w as th e tr u e
n atu re an d sp ec ia l c h ara c te r o f p ro phecy . S o a tte n tio n m ust b e c alle d to its b asis
b ec au se o f t h e u rg en t n eed f o r i t.
The T ru e N atu re o f P ro phecy a nd t h e N ee d A ll M en H ave f o r I t
1 02. Know th at m an ’s ess e n ce, in his orig in al co nditi o n, is cre ate d in bla n k
s im plic ity w ith out an y in fo rm atio n ab out th e “w orld s” o f G od M ost H ig h . T hese
“ w orld s” a re s o m an y t h at o nly G od M ost H ig h c an n um ber t h em , a s H e h as s a id : “ N o
o ne k now s t h e h osts o f y o ur L ord b ut H e” ( 7 4.3 4/3 1). M an g ets h is in fo rm atio n a b ou t
t h e “ w orld s” b y m ea n s o f p erc ep tio n. E ac h o ne o f h is k in ds o f p erc ep ti o n i s c re a te d i n
o rd er th at m an m ay g et to k now t h ere b y a “ w orld ” o f t h e e x is te n ts — a n d b y “ w orld s”
w e m ea n t h e c ate g o rie s o f e x is tin g t h in gs.
1 03. The f ir s t t h in g c re ate d i n m an i s t h e s e n se o f t o uch : b y t h is h e p erc e iv es c erta in
c la sse s of ex is te n ts su ch as h eat an d co ld , w etn ess an d d ry n ess, sm ooth ness an d
r o ugh ness , e tc . B ut to uch is d efin it e ly u nab le to p erc eiv e c o lo rs a n d s o unds: in dee d ,
t h ese a re , a s i t w ere , n onex is te n t w ith r e sp ect t o t o uch .
1 04. Nex t th e s e n se o f s ig h t is c re ate d fo r m an , b y w hic h h e p erc eiv es c o lo rs a n d
s h ap es: t h is i s t h e m ost e x te n siv e o f t h e “ w orld s” o f t h e s e n sib le s.
1 05. Then t h e s e n se o f h earin g i s o pen ed , s o t h at m an h ears s o unds a n d t o nes.
1 06. Nex t t h e s e n se o f t a ste i s c re ate d f o r m an ; a n d s o o n u ntil h e p ass e s b ey o nd t h e
“ w orld ” o f th e se n sib le s. T hen , w hen h e is a b out se v en y ears o ld , d is c e rn m en t is
c re ate d fo r h im . T his is a n oth er o f th e s ta g es o f m an ’s e x is te n ce; in it h e p erc eiv es
t h in gs b ey o nd th e “ w orld ” o f th e s e n sib le s, n one o f w hic h a re f o und i n t h e “ w orld ” o f
s e n sa ti o n.
1 07. Then m an a sc e n ds to a n oth er s ta g e, a n d in te lle c t is c re ate d f o r h im , s o th at h e
p erc eiv es th e n ece ss a ry , th e p ossib le , th e im possib le , an d th in gs n ot fo und in th e
p re v io us s ta g es.
1 08. Bey o nd th e sta g e o f in te lle ct th ere is an oth er sta g e. In th is a n oth er e y e is
o pen ed , b y w hic h m an s e e s th e h id den , a n d w hat w il l ta k e p la ce in th e fu tu re , a n d
o th er th in gs, f ro m w hic h th e in te lle ct i s a s f a r r e m oved a s t h e p ow er o f d is c e rn m en t i s
f ro m th e perc ep tio n of in te ll ig ib le s an d th e pow er of se n sa tio n is fro m th in gs
p erc eiv ed b y d is c ern m en t. A nd ju st a s o ne a b le o nly to d is c ern , if p re se n te d w ith th e AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 23
t h in gs p erc e p tib le to th e in te ll e ct, w ould r e je ct th em a n d c o nsid er th em o utla n dis h , s o
s o m e m en e n dow ed w it h in te ll e ct h av e r e je c te d th e th in gs p erc ep tib le t o th e p ro phetic
p ow er a n d c o nsid ere d th em w ild ly i m pro bab le . T hat is t h e v ery e sse n ce o f i g n ora n ce !
F or su ch a m an h as n o su pportin g re aso n ex cep t it is a sta g e h e h im se lf h as n o t
a tta in ed a n d f o r h im i t d oes n ot e x is t: s o h e s u ppose s t h at i t d oes n ot e x is t i n i ts e lf .
1 09. Now if a m an b orn b lin d d id n ot k now a b out c o lo rs a n d s h ap es f ro m c o nsta n t
r e p ort an d hears a y , an d w ere to be to ld ab out th em ab ru ptly , he w ould neith er
u nders ta n d th em n or a ck now le d ge th eir e x is te n ce. B ut G od M ost H ig h h as b ro ugh t
t h e m atte r w ith in th e p urv ie w o f H is c re atu re s b y g iv in g th em a s a m ple o f th e s p ecia l
c h ara c te r o f th e p ro pheti c p ow er: sle ep in g. F or th e s le ep er p erc eiv es th e u nknow n
t h at w il l t a k e p la ce, e ith er p la in ly , o r in t h e g uis e o f a n i m ag e t h e m ean in g o f w hic h i s
d is c lo se d b y i n te rp re ta ti o n.
1 10. If a m an h ad h ad n o p ers o nal e x perie n ce o f d re am in g a n d s o m eo ne w ere t o t e ll
h im : “ T here a re s o m e m en w ho f a ll d ow n u nco nsc io us a s th ough t h ey w ere d ead , a n d
t h eir perc ep ti o n, hearin g, an d sig h t le av e th em , an d th ey th en perc e iv e w hat is
‘ h id den ’,” h e w ould d en y it a n d g iv e a p odeic tic p ro of o f its im possib ili ty b y s a y in g:
“ T he se n so ry p ow ers are th e cau se s o f p erc e p tio n. T here fo re o ne w ho d oes n o t
p erc eiv e s u ch th in gs w hen h is p ow ers a re p re se n t a n d fu nctio nin g a fo rtio ri w il l n o t
p erc eiv e t h em w hen h is p ow ers a re s u sp en ded .”
1 11. This is a kin d of an alo gy w hic h is beli e d by fa c tu al ex perie n ce an d
o bse rv atio n. J u st a s t h e i n te lle c t i s o ne o f m an ’s s ta g es i n w hic h h e r e ceiv es a n “ ey e”
b y w hic h h e “se es” v ario us sp ec ie s o f in te llig ib le s fro m w hic h th e se n se s are fa r
r e m oved , th e pro phetic pow er is an ex pre ssio n sig n if y in g a sta g e in w hic h m an
r e c eiv es an “ey e” poss e sse d of a lig ht, an d in its lig h t th e unknow n an d oth er
p hen om en a n ot n orm ally p erc eiv ed b y t h e i n te ll e ct b eco m e v is ib le .
1 12. Doubt a b out p ro phec y to uch es e ith er it s p ossib ili ty , o r its a ctu al e x is te n ce , o r
i t s b elo ngin g t o a s p ec if ic i n div id ual.
1 13. The p ro of o f i ts p ossib ili ty i s i ts e x is te n ce . A nd t h e p ro of o f i ts e xis te n ce i s t h e
e x is te n ce in th e w orld o f k now le d ge w hic h c o uld n ot c o nceiv ab ly b e o bta in ed b y th e
i n te ll e ct a lo ne — s u ch a s th e k now le d ge o f m ed ic in e a n d o f a str o nom y. F or w hoev er
e x am in es s u ch k now le d ge k now s o f n ece ss it y th at it c an b e o bta in ed o nly b y a d iv in e
i n sp ir a tio n a n d a s p ec ia l h elp f ro m G od M ost H ig h , a n d th at t h ere i s n o e m pir ic al w ay
t o it. T hus a m ong a str o nom ic a l p hen om en a t h ere is a p hen om en on w hic h o cc u rs o nly
e v ery th ousa n d y ears . H ow , th en , c o uld k now le d ge o f th at b e o bta in ed e m pir ic all y ?
T he s a m e i s t r u e o f t h e p ro pertie s o f m ed ic a m en ts .
1 14. Fro m th is p ro of it is c le arly w it h in th e b ounds o f p oss ib ilit y th at a w ay e x is ts
t o g ra sp th ese th in gs w hic h th e in te lle ct d oes n ot n orm all y g ra sp . T his is w hat is
m ean t b y p ro phec y . N ot th at p ro phecy s ig n if ie s s u ch k now le d ge o nly . R ath er, th e
p erc ep tio n o f th is k in d o f th in g w hic h is o uts id e th e th in gs n orm all y p erc eiv ed b y th e
i n te ll e ct is o ne o f th e p ro perti e s o f p ro phec y . I t a ls o h as m an y o th er p ro pertie s; w hat
w e h av e m en tio ned is a d ro p fro m its s e a. W e h av e m en tio ned it o nly b ec au se y o u
h av e in y o ur o w n e x perie n ce a n e x am ple o f it, v iz ., th e th in gs y o u p erc eiv e w hile
a sle ep . Y ou a ls o h av e k now le d ge o f t h e s a m e s o rt i n m ed ic in e a n d a str o nom y. T hese ,
t o o, b elo ng to th e c ate g o ry o f th e p ro phets ’ a p olo geti c m ir a cle s — th e b le ssin g a n d
p ea ce o f G od b e u pon th em ! B ut m en e n dow ed w ith in te ll e ct h av e n o w ay a t a ll o f
a tta in in g s u ch k now le d ge b y i n te ll e ctu al r e so urc e s a lo ne.
1 15. The p ro pertie s o f p ro phec y b ey o nd t h ose j u st m en tio ned c an b e p erc e iv ed o nly
b y fru it io nal e x perie n ce a s a re su lt o f fo llo w in g th e w ay o f S ufis m . F or y o u h av e
u nders to od th at o nly b ecau se o f a n e x am ple y o u h av e b ee n g iv en , v iz ., s le e p ; w ere it
n ot f o r th is , y o u w ould n ot a sse n t t o th at. I f , th en , th e p ro phet h as a s p ecia l q ualit y o f AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 24
w hic h y o u h av e n o e x am ple a n d w hic h y o u i n n o w is e u nders ta n d, h ow c a n y o u f in d i t
c re d ib le ? A sse n t c o m es o nly a fte r u nders ta n din g. B ut th e e x am ple n ee d ed o ccu rs in
t h e f ir s t s ta g es o f th e w ay o f S ufis m . T hen , th ro ugh th is e x am ple , o ne o bta in s a k in d
o f f ru itio nal e x perie n ce c o m men su ra te w it h t h e p ro gre ss m ad e p lu s a k in d o f a sse n t t o
w hat h as n ot b een a tta in ed b ase d o n a n alo gy w it h w hat h as b een a tt a in ed . S o th is
s in gle p ro perty w e h av e m en tio ned is e n ough g ro und f o r y o u t o b elie v e i n th e b asis o f
p ro phec y .
1 16. If it o ccu rs to y o u to d oubt w heth er a p artic u la r in div id ual is a p ro phet o r n ot,
c e rta in ty w ill b e g ain ed o nly b y b eco m in g a cq uain te d w it h h is c ir c u m sta n ce s, e ith er
t h ro ugh p ers o nal o bse rv atio n o r f ro m i m pecc ab le t r a d iti o n a n d h ea rs a y . F or w hen y o u
a re fa m il ia r w ith m ed ic in e an d ju ris p ru den ce, y o u c an re co gn iz e ju ris p ru den ts an d
p hysic ia n s b y o bse rv in g th eir c ir c u m sta n ces, a n d a ls o b y h earin g th eir d ic ta , e v en if
y o u h av e n ot s e e n t h em y o urs e lf . M ore o ver, y o u a re q uite c a p ab le o f k now in g t h at a l-
S h fi‘ ( G od’s m erc y b e u pon h im !) w as a j u ris p ru den t a n d t h at G ale n w as a p hysic ia n
— a n d t h at w ith a k now le d ge b ase d o n f a c t, n ot o n u ncritic al a c cep ta n ce o f s o m eo ne’s
s a y -s o — b y y o ur le arn in g so m eth in g ab out ju ris p ru den ce an d m ed ic in e an d th en
p eru sin g th eir w ritin gs a n d w ork s: th us y o u w ill a cq uir e a n ecessa ry k now le d ge o f
t h eir s c ie n tif ic s ta tu s.
1 17. Lik ew is e , w hen y o u u nders ta n d th e m ea n in g o f p ro phec y a n d d ev ote m uch
s tu dy t o t h e Q ur’ n a n d t h e t r a d iti o ns, y o u w ill a cq uir e t h e n ecessa ry k now le d ge o f t h e
f a c t th at M uham m ad — G od’s b le ssin g a n d p ea ce b e u pon h im ! — h ad a tt a in ed th e
l o ftie st le v el o f p ro phecy . T hen b ack th at u p b y s a m plin g w hat h e s a id a b out th e a cts
o f w ors h ip a n d th eir e ffe c t o n th e p urif ic a tio n o f h earts . C onsid er, f o r e x am ple , h ow
r ig h t h e w as — G od’s b le ss in g a n d p eac e b e u pon h im ! — in h is s a y in g: “ W hoev er
a c ts a c co rd in g to w hat h e k now s, G od w ill m ak e h im h eir to w hat h e d oes n ot k now ”;
a n d h ow r ig h t h e w as i n h is s a y in g: “ W hoev er a id s a n u nju st m an , G od g iv es t h e l a tte r
d om in io n o ver h im ”; a n d h ow r ig h t h e w as in h is s a y in g: “ W hoev er r e ach es th e p oin t
w here a ll h is c are s a re a s in gle c a re , G od M ost H ig h w ill s a v e h im fro m a ll c are s in
t h is lif e an d th e n ex t.” W hen yo u h av e h ad th at ex perie n ce in a th ousa n d, tw o
t h ousa n d, an d m an y th ousa n ds of in sta n ce s, yo u w ill hav e acq uir e d a necessa ry
k now le d ge w hic h w il l b e i n dis p uta b le .
1 18. There fo re , s e e k s u re a n d c erta in k now le d ge o f p ro phecy in th is w ay , n ot f ro m
t h e c h an gin g o f th e sta ff in to a se rp en t a n d th e sp litt in g o f th e m oon. F or if y o u
c o nsid er th at so rt of th in g alo ne, w ith out ad din g th e m an y, in dee d in num era b le ,
c ir c u m sta n ce s a cc o m pan yin g i t, y o u m ig h t th in k it w as a c ase o f m ag ic a n d d ec ep ti o n ,
a n d th at it w as a “ le ad in g a str a y ” c o m in g fro m G od M ost H ig h , b eca u se “ H e le a d s
a str a y w hom H e w ill a n d r ig h tl y g u id es w hom H e w ill” ( 1 6.9 5/9 3), a n d th e p ro ble m s
c o nnecte d w it h a p olo getic m ir a cle s w ould c o nfro nt y o u.
1 19. Furth erm ore , if y o ur fa it h w ere b ase d o n a c a re fu ll y o rd ere d a rg u m en t a b ou t
t h e w ay th e a p olo getic m ir a cle a ffo rd s p ro of o f p ro phecy , y o ur f a it h w ould b e b ro ken
b y a n e q ually w ell- o rd ere d a rg u m en t s h ow in g h ow d if fic u lt y a n d d oubt m ay a ffe ct t h at
m ode o f p ro of. T here fo re , le t su ch p re te rn atu ra l ev en ts b e o ne o f th e p ro ofs an d
c o nco m it a n ts th at m ak e u p y o ur to ta l re fle c tio n o n th e m atte r. A s a re su lt, y o u w ill
a c q uir e s u ch n ec essa ry k now le d ge th at y o u w ill b e u nab le to c ite its s p ecif ic b asis . I t
w ould be lik e th e case of a m an to w hom m an y m en re p ort an unim pea ch ab le
t r a d iti o n. H e c an not a v er th at h is su re a n d c e rta in k now le d ge is d eriv ed fro m th e
s ta te m en t o f o ne s p ecif ic in div id ual. R ath er, h e d oes n ot k now w hen ce it c o m es: b u t
i t i s n eith er o uts id e t h e g ro up t e stim ony, n or i s i t d ue t o p in poin tin g i n div id uals . T his ,
t h en , is th e str o ng b elie f b ase d o n k now le d ge. F ru itio nal e x perie n ce , o n th e o th er
h an d, i s c o m para b le t o a ctu al s e ein g a n d h an dli n g: t h is i s f o und o nly in th e w ay o f th e
S ufis . AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 25
1 20. This m uch , th en , o f th e re al m ea n in g o f p ro phecy is s u ffic ie n t f o r m y p re se n t
p urp ose . N ow I s h all m en ti o n t h e r e aso n w hy i t i s n eed ed .
The R ea so n f o r R esu m in g T ea ch in g A fte r H avin g G iv en I t U p
A . Docto rs o f H ea rts
1 21. For n early te n y ea rs I a ssid uously c u lt iv ate d se clu sio n a n d s o li tu de. D urin g
t h at tim e se v era l poin ts bec am e cle a r to m e of nece ss it y fo r re a so ns I can no t
e n um era te — at o ne ti m e b y fru itio nal ex perie n ce, at an oth er tim e b y k now le d ge
b ase d o n a p odeic tic p ro of, a n d a g ain b y a cc ep ta n ce fo unded o n fa ith . T hese p oin ts
w ere : th at m an is fo rm ed o f a b ody a n d a h ea rt — a n d b y th e “ h eart” I m ean th e
e sse n ce o f m an ’s s p ir it w hic h i s th e s e at o f t h e k now le d ge o f G od, n ot t h e f le sh w hic h
m an h as i n c o m mon w ith c o rp se a n d b east; t h at h is b ody m ay h av e a h ea lth w hic h w ill
r e su lt i n i t s h ap pin ess , a n d a m ala d y i n w hic h l ie s i ts r u in ; t h at h is h eart, l ik ew is e , m ay
h av e a h ealth a n d s o undness — a n d o nly h e w il l b e s a v ed “ w ho c o m es to G od w it h a
s o und h eart” (2 6.8 9), a n d it m ay h av e a m ala d y w hic h w ill le ad to h is e v erla stin g
p erd itio n in th e n ex t li f e , a s G od M ost H ig h h as s a id : “ In th eir h ea rts is a m ala d y”
( 2 .9 /1 0); th at ig nora n ce o f G od is th e h ea rt’ s d ead ly p ois o n, d is o bed ie n ce to G od it s
i n cap ac ita tin g m ala d y, k now le d ge o f G od M ost H ig h its q uic k en in g an tid ote , an d
o bed ie n ce to H im b y re sis ti n g p assio n its h ea lin g re m ed y; th at th e o nly w ay to tr e at
t h e h ea rt b y r e m ovin g its m ala d y a n d r e g ain in g its h ea lth lie s in th e u se o f r e m ed ie s,
j u st a s t h at i s t h e o nly w ay t o t r e at t h e b ody.
1 22. Rem ed ie s f o r t h e b ody e ff e ctiv ely p ro cu re h ealt h b ecau se o f a p ro perty i n t h em
w hic h m en en dow ed w ith in te lle ct can not perc e iv e b y v ir tu e o f th eir in te ll e ctu al
r e so urc es, b ut ra th er it m ust b e th e o bje ct o f b li n d o bed ie n ce to th e p hysic ia n s w ho
l e arn ed it f ro m th e p ro phets , w ho, b eca u se o f th e s p ecia l a ttr ib ute o f p ro phecy , c a m e
t o k now th e s p ecia l p ro pertie s o f th in gs. In a s im ila r fa sh io n it b ec am e n ece ss a rily
e v id en t to m e th at th e re aso n fo r th e effe c tiv en ess o f th e re m ed ie s o f th e a cts o f
w ors h ip , w it h th eir p re sc rip tio ns a n d d ete rm in ed q uan tit ie s o rd ain ed b y th e p ro phets ,
c a n not b e p erc eiv ed b y m ean s o f th e in te lle ctu al re so urc es o f m en en dow ed w it h
i n te ll e ct. O n th e c o ntr a ry , th ey m ust b e th e o bje ct o f b lin d o bed ie n ce to th e p ro phets
w ho p erc eiv ed t h ose q ualit ie s b y t h e l ig h t o f p ro phecy , n ot b y i n te ll e ctu al r e so urc e s.
1 23. More o ver, ju st as m ed ic am en ts are co m pose d of m ix tu re s of ele m en ts
d if fe rin g in kin d an d quan tit y , so m e o f th em b ein g double o th ers in w eig ht an d
q uan tity , an d ju st as th e dif fe re n ce of th eir quan tit ie s is not w it h out a pro fo und
s ig n if ic a n ce p erta in in g to th e k in d o f th e p ro pertie s, s o , lik ew is e , th e a c ts o f w ors h ip ,
w hic h are th e re m ed ie s of h earts , are co m pose d o f actio ns d if fe rin g in k in d an d
q uan tity , s o t h at a p ro str a tio n i s t h e d ouble o f a b ow in g, a n d t h e m orn in g p ra y er i s h alf
a s l o ng a s th e a fte rn oon p ra y er. T his d if fe re n ce i s n ot w ith out a p ro fo und s ig n if ic a n ce
w hic h perta in s to th e kin d of th e pro pertie s know ab le only by th e li g h t of th e
p ro phec y . V ery s tu pid a n d ig n ora n t w ould b e th e m an w ho w ould w is h t o d is c o ver i n
t h em a w is d om by m ean s of re a so n, or w ho w ould su ppose th at th ey had been
m en tio ned b y ch an ce , an d n ot b eca u se o f a p ro fo und d iv in e sig n if ic a n ce in th em
w hic h r e q uir e s t h em t o b e s u ch b eca u se o f t h e s p ecia l p ro perty i n t h em . A nd j u st a s i n
m ed ic a m en ts th ere a re b asic e le m en ts w hic h a re th eir c h ie f in gre d ie n ts a n d a d diti o nal
s u bsta n ce s w hic h a re th eir c o m ple m en ts , e ach o f th em h av in g a s p ecia l e ffe ct o n th e
w ork in gs o f th eir b asic e le m en ts , s o , li k ew is e , s u pere ro gato ry p ra y ers a n d c u sto m ary
p ra c tic es a re c o m ple m en ts fo r p erfe cti n g th e e ffe cts o f th e p rin cip al e le m en ts o f th e
a c ts o f w ors h ip .
1 24. In g en era l, th en , th e p ro phets (P eac e b e u pon th em !) a re th e p hysic ia n s fo r
t r e ati n g th e m ala d ie s o f h earts . B y it s a cti v ity re aso n is u se fu l s im ply to a c q uain t u s
w ith th is f a c t, to b ea r w itn ess to p ro phecy b y g iv in g a sse n t to its r e ali ty , to c erti f y it s AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 26
o w n b lin dness to p erc e iv in g w hat th e “ ey e” o f p ro phecy p erc eiv es, a n d to ta k e u s b y
o ur h an ds a n d tu rn u s o ver t o th e p ro phets a s b li n d m en a re h an ded o ver t o g u id es a n d
a s t r o uble d s ic k m en a re h an ded o ver to s y m path etic p hysic ia n s. T o th is p oin t r e a so n
c a n p ro ce ed a n d a d van ce, b ut it is f a r r e m oved f ro m a n yth in g b ey o nd th at e x ce p t f o r
u nders ta n din g w hat th e p hysic ia n p re sc rib es. T hese , th en , a re th e in sig h ts w e g ain ed
w ith a n ec essity an alo go us to d ir e ct v is io n d urin g th e p erio d o f o ur so litu de an d
s e clu sio n.
B . The S la ck n ess o f F ait h
1 25. Then w e s a w th e lu kew arm ness o f m en ’s b elie fs in th e b asis o f p ro phecy , a n d
c o nse q uen tly , in th e re ality o f p ro phec y an d in ac tio n in ac co rd w it h th e d ata o f
p ro phec y . W e a ls o a sc erta in ed th at th is w as w id esp re ad a m ong m en . I th en r e fle c te d
o n th e re a so ns fo r m en ’s lu kew arm ness a n d th e w eak ness o f th eir fa ith , a n d fo und
t h em t o b e f o ur i n n um ber:
1 . A r e a so n s te m min g f ro m t h ose e n gro sse d i n t h e s c ie n ce o f p hilo so ph y.
2. A r e a so n s te m min g f ro m t h ose a b so rb ed i n t h e w ay o f S ufis m .
3. A r e a so n s te m min g f ro m t h ose a tt a ch ed t o t h e c la im o f a u th orita tiv e t e ach in g.
4. A r e a so n s te m min g f ro m t h e b eh av io r o f t h ose p opu la rly r e g ard ed a s p re e m in en t i n l e a rn in g .
1 26. For a perio d of tim e I nex t ad dre sse d m yse lf su cce ss iv ely to in div id uals ,
q uesti o nin g t h ose w ho w ere r e m is s in f u lf ill in g t h e L aw . I w ould a sk a m an a b out h is
s p ecio us re aso n fo r th at a n d in quir e in to h is b elie f a n d h is in ner c o nvic ti o ns, a sk in g
h im : “ W hy are y o u so re m is s ? If y o u b elie v e in th e a fte rlif e , b ut d o n ot p re p are
y o urs e lf fo r it a n d b arte r it fo r th is lif e — w hy, th is is stu pid ity ! Y ou w ould n o t
o rd in arily b arte r t w o th in gs f o r o ne. H ow , th en , c a n y o u b arte r w hat i s u nen din g f o r a
l i m it e d n um ber o f d ay s? A nd if y o u d o n ot b elie v e, th en y o u a re a n in fid el! S o a ct
w is e ly in th e q uest f o r f a ith a n d lo ok in to th e c au se o f y o ur h id den u nbelie f! F or th is
i s y o ur r e a l i n ner c o nvic tio n a n d t h e c au se o f y o ur o utw ard b old ness, e v en t h ough y o u
d o n ot o pen ly e x pre ss it, b ec au se y o u w an t to b ed eck y o urs e lf w ith th e tr a p pin gs o f
f a ith a n d t o b e r e sp ecte d f o r p ay in g l i p s e rv ic e t o t h e l a w !”
1 27. One m an w ould re p ly : “ If th is w ere a m att e r o ne w as b ound to o bse rv e, th en
t h e l e arn ed w ould b e t h ose m ost p ro perly b ound t o d o i t. B ut o f t h ose m ost r e n ow ned
a m ong th e le a rn ed , s o -a n d-s o d oes n ot p erfo rm th e p re sc rib ed P ra y er, a n d s u ch a o ne
d rin ks w in e, a n d a n oth er d ev ours th e a sse ts o f r e lig io us e n dow m en ts a n d t h e p ro perty
o f o rp han s, a n d a n oth er f e ath ers h is n est w ith th e l a v is h l a rg esse o f th e S ulta n w ith ou t
b ein g w ary o f w hat is illi c it , a n d a n oth er a cc ep ts b rib es fo r ju dgm en t a n d te stim ony,
a n d s o o n i n m an y s im il a r i n sta n ces!”
1 28. A s e co nd m an w ould c la im to b e a n a d ep t in th e s c ie n ce o f S ufis m a n d a lle g e
t h at h e h ad a tta in ed a d eg re e b ey o nd th e n eed f o r f o rm al w ors h ip . A nd a th ir d w ould
o ffe r a s h is e x cu se o ne o f th e s p ecio us r e aso ns a d van ced b y th e lic en tio us. T hese a re
t h e e rrin g w ho p ro fe ss t h e w ay o f S ufis m .
1 29. A f o urth r e sp onden t w ould h av e h ad c o nta ct w ith th e T a‘l m ite s. S o h e w ould
d ec la re : “ T he t r u th i s d oubtf u l, t h e w ay t o i t h ard , t h ere i s m uch d is a g re em en t a b out i t ,
a n d n o o ne v ie w is p re fe ra b le to a n y o th er. M ore o ver, r a tio nal p ro ofs c o ntr a d ic t o ne
a n oth er s o th at n o r e lia n ce c an b e p la c ed o n th e o pin io n o f in dep en den t th in kers . B ut
t h e ad voca te of au th orit a ti v e te ach in g m ak es cate g o ric al pro nouncem en ts w ith ou t
n ee d in g a n y p ro of. H ow , t h en , c an w e g iv e u p t h e c e rta in b ecau se o f t h e u ncerta in ?”
1 30. A f if th m an w ould s a y : “ I d o n ot d o th is o ut o f s e rv ile c o nfo rm is m , b ut I h av e
s tu die d th e s c ie n ce o f p hilo so phy a n d I h av e g ra sp ed th e r e a l m ean in g o f p ro phecy . I
k now th at it co m es d ow n to w hat is w is e an d b en efic ia l an d th at th e aim o f it s
r e lig io us pre sc rip tio ns is to co ntr o l th e co m mon peo ple an d to cu rb th em fro m
i n te rn ec in e s tr if e a n d c o nte n ti o n a n d fro m u nre str a in ed in dulg en ce in th eir p assio ns. AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 27
H en ce I a m n ot o ne o f th e ig n ora n t m asse s a n d th ere fo re s u bje ct to c o m man dm en t.
R ath er, I a m o ne o f th e w is e , f o llo w in g th e w ay o f w is d om a n d w ell v ers e d in it, a n d
i n m y w is d om I c a n g et a lo ng w ith out s e rv il e c o nfo rm is m !” T his is th e li m it r e a ch ed
b y th e f a it h o f th ose w ho h av e s tu die d t h e p hilo so phy o f t h e t h eis tic p hil o so phers : t h at
i s k now n f ro m t h e b ooks o f I b n S n a n d A b N asr a l- F r b .
1 31. These a re th e m en w ho b ed ec k th em se lv es w it h th e tr a p pin gs o f I s la m . O fte n
y o u m ay s e e o ne o f t h em r e citin g th e Q ur’ n a n d a tte n din g th e A ss e m blie s a n d p ublic
p ra y ers a n d p ay in g g re at lip s e rv ic e to th e S har ‘ a . B ut d esp ite th at h e d oes n ot g iv e
u p h is w in eb ib bin g a n d v ario us k in ds o f d ep ra v ity a n d d eb au ch ery . I f h e i s a sk ed : “ If
p ro phec y is n ot a u th en tic , w hy d o y o u p ra y ?” h e m ay re p ly : “ It is a n a sk esis o f th e
b ody a n d th e c u sto m o f th e lo cal p eo ple a n d a w ay to p re se rv e fo rtu ne a n d fa m ily .”
A nd h e m ay sa y : “T he S har ‘ a is au th en ti c an d p ro phec y is g en uin e.” T hen o ne
s h ould s a y : “ W hy, th en , d o y o u d rin k w in e? ” A nd h e m ay s a y : “ W in e w as p ro hib ite d
s im ply b ec au se it c a u se s e n m ity a n d h atr e d . B ut I, b y m y w is d om , c an g u ard a g ain st
t h at. M y o nly a im i n d rin kin g i s t o s tim ula te m y m in d.”
1 32. In deed , Ib n S n w en t s o fa r a s to w rite in a te sta m en t o f h is th at h e m ad e a
p ac t w it h G od to d o c erta in th in gs, a n d th at h e w ould e x to l th e o rd in an ces o f th e L aw
a n d w ould n ot b e re m is s in p erf o rm in g th e re lig io us a c ts o f w ors h ip , n or w ould h e
d rin k f o r p le asu re , b ut o nly f o r m ed ic in al p urp ose s a n d to p ro m ote h is h ealt h . S o th e
f u rth est h e g o t r e sp ec tin g p urity o f f a ith a n d th e o blig atio n o f a cts o f w ors h ip w as to
m ak e a n e x cep ti o n f o r w in eb ib bin g o n th e s c o re o f p ro m oti n g h is h ealt h ! S uch is th e
f a ith o f th ose p hil o so phers w ho p re te n d to h av e fa ith ! M an y, in dee d , h av e b een
d ec eiv ed b y th em , a n d th eir d ece p tio n h as b een in te n sif ie d b y th e w ea k a rg u m en ts o f
t h ose w ho oppose d th e philo so phers . F or th eir opposit io n w as to re p udia te th e
s c ie n ce s o f g eo m etr y a n d lo gic a n d o th ers w hic h , fo r th e p hilo so phers , a re tr u e o f
n ec essity , a cco rd in g t o t h e r e aso ned e x pla n ati o n w e h av e s e t f o rth p re v io usly .
C . My R etu rn t o T ea ch in g
1 33. I s a w , th en , th at fo r s u ch re aso ns a s th ese th e fa ith o f th e v ario us c la sse s o f
m en h ad b eco m e so w ea k . A ls o , I co nsid ere d m yse lf so sk il le d a p ra cti tio ner in
e x posin g su ch so phis tr ie s th at ex posin g th em w as ea sie r fo r m e th an d ow nin g a
m outh fu l o f w ate r, b ecau se I h ad s tu die d d ee p ly th eir s c ie n ces a n d m eth ods — I m ean
t h e m eth ods o f t h e S ufis a n d t h e p hilo so phers a n d t h e T a‘l m ite s a n d t h e d is tin gu is h ed
u le m a. It th en fla sh ed in to m y m in d th at en gag in g in th at activ it y w as a m atte r
d esti n ed a n d in ev ita b le a t s u ch a ti m e: “ W hat w il l so litu de a n d se clu sio n a v ail y o u
w hen th e d is e ase h as b eco m e e n dem ic , th e p hysic ia n s a re s ic k , a n d m en a re o n th e
b rin k of perd iti o n?” T hen I sa id to m yse lf : “W hen w il l yo u dev ote yo urs e lf
c o m ple te ly to la y in g b are t h is a fflic tio n a n d to b att lin g a g ain st th is d re ad fu l d ark ness ?
I t is a ti m e o f te p id ity a n d a n e ra o f e rro r. B ut e v en if y o u w ere to e n gag e in c allin g
m en f ro m th eir e v il w ay s to th e tr u th , a ll th e m en o f th is a g e w ould b e h ostil e to y o u :
h ow , th en , w ould y o u s ta n d u p a g ain st th em ? A nd h ow c o uld y o u p ut u p w it h th em ?
F or th at c o uld b e d one o nly a t a fa v ora b le ti m e a n d u nder a g o dly a n d ir re sis ti b le
S ulta n .”
1 34. Thus I s o ugh t a c o m pro m is e b etw een m yse lf a n d G od M ost H ig h w hic h w ould
p erm it m e to re m ain in s e clu sio n, a ll e g in g a s a n e x cu se m y in ab ili ty to e x pound th e
t r u th w ith c o m pete n t a rg u m en t. B ut G od M ost H ig h d ete rm in ed to m ove th e S ulta n
o f th e ti m e to act o n h is o w n, an d not b ec au se o f an y ex te rn al in stig atio n. H e
p ere m pto rily o rd ere d m e to h aste n to N is h ap ur to fa ce th e th re a t o f th is te p id it y .
I n deed , so p ere m pto ry w as h is o rd er th at, h ad I p ers is te d in re fu sin g to c o m ply , it
w ould h av e e n ded i n m y d is g ra c e.
1 35. Then it o cc u rre d to m e t h at “ th e r e a so n f o r e x cu sin g y o urs e lf h as lo st i ts f o rc e .
H en ce y o ur m otiv e f o r c lin gin g t o s e clu sio n o ugh t n ot t o b e l a z in ess a n d e ase a n d s e lf - AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 28
a g gra n diz em en t a n d p ro te c tin g y o urs e lf f ro m th e h arm c au se d b y m en . W hy, in dee d ,
s h ould y o u tr y to fin d lic e n se fo r s u ch c o nduct in th e d if fic u lty o f s tr u gglin g a g ain st
m en ? F or G od — p ra is e d a n d e x alt e d H e — s a y s: ‘ A . L . M . D o m en th in k t h ey w ill
b e le ft to sa y “ W e b eli e v e” w it h out b ein g su bje c t to tr ib ula tio n? In dee d W e h av e
a lr e a d y tr ie d th ose w ho w ere b efo re th em ( a n d a ssu re d ly G od k now s t h ose w ho s p eak
t r u ly , a n d a ss u re d ly H e k now s th e lia rs )’ (2 9.1 -2 /1 -3 ). H e a ls o s a y s — M ig h ty a n d
G lo rio us H e! — to H is A postle , w ho is th e d ea re st o f H is c re atu re s: ‘ A postle s b efo re
y o u h av e a lr e a d y b ee n g iv en th e lie , a n d th ey e n dure d th e f a ls e c h arg e a n d th e in ju ry
d one th em u nti l O ur h elp c am e to th em . N ow th ere is n o o ne w ho c an c h an ge th e
w ord s o f G od, a n d th ere h as a lr e ad y re ach ed y o u s o m e re p ort a b out th ose W e s e n t.’
( 6 .3 4).”
1 36. “T he M ig h ty an d G lo rio us als o sa y s: ‘In th e n am e o f th e m erc if u l L ord o f
m erc y : Y .S . B y th e w is e Q ur’ n , y o u a re in dee d o f th ose w e h av e s e n t o n a s tr a ig h t
w ay , s e n t d ow n b y th e s e n din g o f th e M ig hty , th e M erc if u l, to w arn a p eo ple w hose
f a th ers w ere n ot w arn ed , s o th at th ey a re h eed le ss. T ru e in deed w hat h as b een s a id
a g ain st m ost o f th em , fo r th ey d o n ot b elie v e. A ss u re d ly W e h av e p la ce d o n th eir
n ec k s ir o n c o lla rs , c h in h ig h , so th at th eir h ead s a re h eld u p. W e h av e a ls o p ut a
b arrie r b efo re th em a n d a b arrie r b eh in d th em , a n d W e h av e b lin ded th em s o t h at t h ey
d o n ot s e e. A ll th e s a m e to y o u w heth er y o u w arn th em o r d o n ot w arn th em — th ey
w ill n ot b elie v e. Y ou w arn o nly h im w ho fo ll o w s th e R em em bra n ce a n d fe ars th e
L ord o f m erc y i n t h e u nse e n ’ ( 3 6.1 -1 0/1 -1 1).”
1 37. Subse q uen tl y I c o nsu lt e d o n t h at m att e r a n um ber o f t h ose s k ille d i n d is c e rn in g
h ea rts a n d v is io ns a n d th ey w ere o f o ne m in d i n a d vis in g m e t o a b an don m y s e clu sio n
a n d to e m erg e fro m m y re lig io us re tir e m en t. In a d diti o n to th at, c erta in g o dly m en
h ad m an y re c u rre n t d re am s a tte sti n g th at th is m ove o f m in e w ould b e a s o urc e o f
g o od a n d a r ig h t p ro ce d ure , a n d t h at it h ad b een d ecre ed b y G od — P ra is e d b e H e! —
f o r th e b eg in nin g o f th is c en tu ry . F or G od — P ra is e d b e H e! — h as i n deed p ro m is e d
t o re v iv if y H is re lig io n at th e beg in nin g of eac h ce n tu ry . So m y hope w as
s tr e n gth en ed a n d I b eca m e q uite o ptim is tic b eca u se o f t h ese t e stim onie s.
1 38. God M ost H ig h f a cil ita te d m y m ove to N s h p r to u nderta k e th is s e rio us ta sk
i n t h e m onth o f D hu’l- Q a‘d a, 4 99 ( J u ly , 1 106 A .D .) . M y d ep artu re f ro m B ag h dad h ad
b ee n in D hu’l- Q a‘d a, 4 88 (N ovem ber, 1 095 A .D .) . S o th e p erio d o f m y se clu sio n
a m ounte d to e le v en y ea rs . T his m ove to N s h p r w as d ec re e d b y G od M ost H ig h ,
a n d it w as o ne o f th e m arv els o f H is f o re o rd in ati o ns, n ot a g li m mer o f w hic h w as in
m y m in d d urin g th at p erio d o f s e clu sio n, j u st a s t h e p oss ib ilit y o f m y l e a v in g B ag h dad
a n d g iv in g u p m y p ositio n th ere h ad n ev er o cc u rre d t o m y m in d. B ut G od M ost H ig h
i s t h e c h an ger o f m in ds a n d s ta te s, a n d “ th e h eart o f t h e b eli e v er i s b etw een t w o o f t h e
f in gers o f t h e L ord o f m erc y .”
1 39. I k now w ell th at, e v en th ough I h av e re tu rn ed to te ac h in g, I h av e n ot re ally
r e tu rn ed . F or re tu rn in g is c o m in g b ac k to w hat w as. F orm erly I u se d to im part th e
k now le d ge b y w hic h g lo ry is g ain ed fo r g lo ry ’s s a k e, a n d to in vite m en to it b y m y
w ord s a n d d eed s, a n d t h at w as m y a im a n d m y i n te n tio n. B ut n ow I i n vite m en t o t h e
k now le d ge b y w hic h g lo ry is re n ounce d a n d it s lo w ly ra n k re co gn iz ed . T his is n ow
m y in te n tio n, m y a im , m y d esir e . G od k now s th at to b e tr u e o f m e. I n ow e arn estly
d esir e to r e fo rm m yse lf a n d o th ers , b ut I d o n ot k now w heth er I s h all a tt a in m y d esir e
o r b e c u t o ff b y d eath s h ort o f m y g o al. Y et I b elie v e w it h a f a ith a s c erta in a s d ir e ct
v is io n th at th ere is n o m ig h t fo r m e an d n o p ow er sa v e in G od, th e S ublim e, th e
M ig h ty ; a n d t h at i t w as n ot I w ho m oved , b ut H e m oved m e; a n d t h at I d id n ot a c t, b u t
H e a cte d th ro ugh m e. I ask H im , th en , to re fo rm m e fir s t, th en to u se m e a s an
i n str u m en t o f re fo rm ; to g u id e m e, th en to u se m e a s a n in str u m en t o f g u id an ce ; to AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 29
s h ow m e th e tr u e a s tr u e, a n d to g ra n t m e th e g ra ce to f o ll o w it; a n d to s h ow m e th e
f a ls e a s f a ls e , a n d t o g ra n t m e t h e g ra c e t o e sc h ew i t!
D . Rem ed ie s f o r t h e T ep id
1 40. Now w e re tu rn to th e re a so ns w e h av e m en ti o ned fo r th e w ea k ness o f s o m e
m en ’s f a it h . W e s h all m en tio n th e w ay to g u id e th em a rig h t a n d to d eli v er th em f ro m
t h eir m orta l p erils .
(1 ) The tr e atm en t fo r th ose w ho c la im to b e p erp le x ed b eca u se o f w hat
t h ey h av e h eard fro m th e T a‘l m it e s is w hat w e h av e m en tio ned in o ur b ook T he
C orre ct B ala nce. W e s h all n ot u nduly p ro lo ng t h e d is c u ss io n b y m en ti o nin g i t i n t h is
e p is tle .
(2 ) As fo r th e flig h ts o f fa n cy o f th e lic en ti o us li b erti n es, w e h av e lis te d
t h eir sp ec io us arg u m en ts in se v en cate g o rie s an d la id th em b are in o ur b ook T he
A lc h em y o f H appin ess.
(3 ) For th e m an w hose f a ith h as b eco m e c o rru pt t h ro ugh p hil o so phy to th e
p oin t t h at h e r e je c ts t h e v ery p rin cip le o f p ro phec y w e h av e a lr e a d y m en ti o ned t h e t r u e
n atu re o f p ro phecy a n d its e x is te n ce o f n ec essity , a d ducin g th e p ro of d ra w n f ro m th e
e x is te n ce of th e know le d ge of th e sp ecia l pro pertie s of m ed ic a m en ts an d of th e
k now le d ge ab out th e sta rs , etc . In deed , w e pre se n te d th at pre fa to ry dis c u ss io n
p re c is e ly fo r th at re aso n. M ore o ver, w e s e t fo rth th e p ro of d ra w n fro m th e s p ecia l
p ro pertie s o f m ed ic in e a n d th e s ta rs s im ply b ec au se th at p erta in s to th e p hil o so phers ’
o w n sc ie n ce. F or to eac h m an v ers e d in a p artic u la r sc ie n ce — e.g . astr o nom y,
m ed ic in e, p hysic s, m ag ic , ta lis m an s — w e e x pound th e p ro of o f p ro phecy d ra w n
f ro m h is o w n s c ie n ce.
1 41. He w ho pay s lip se rv ic e to th e ex is te n ce of pro phecy , but eq uate s th e
p re sc rip tio ns o f re v ela ti o n w it h h um an w is d om , re a lly d is b elie v es in p ro phecy . H e
b elie v es o nly in a s a g e w ith a s p ecia l s ta r o f d estin y w hose a sc en dan cy d em an ds th at
h e b e f o llo w ed . T his h as n oth in g a t a ll to d o w ith p ro phecy . O n t h e c o ntr a ry , f a it h i n
p ro phec y is to a c k now le d ge th e a ffir m atio n o f a s ta g e b ey o nd re aso n: in it a n e y e is
o pen ed by w hic h a sp ecia l perc ep tio n of certa in perc e p tib le s is had ; fro m th e
p erc ep tio n o f t h ese r e a so n i s e x clu ded , j u st a s h earin g i s f ro m t h e p erc e p tio n o f c o lo rs ,
a n d sig h t fro m th e p erc ep tio n o f so unds, a n d a ll th e se n se s fro m th e p erc ep ti o n o f
i n te ll ig ib le s. If th e m an in q uesti o n d oes n ot a llo w th e p ossib il ity o f th is , w ell w e
h av e a lr e ad y g iv en a p odeic tic p ro of, n ot o nly o f it s p ossib il ity , b ut a ls o o f its a ctu al
e x is te n ce . B ut if h e d oes a llo w it, th en h e h as in deed a ff ir m ed th at th ere re a lly a re
t h in gs c alle d p ro perti e s w hic h in n o w is e f a ll w ith in th e a m bit o f r e a so n’s a cti v ity ; o n
t h e co ntr a ry , re a so n w ould alm ost certa in ly den y th em an d ju dge th em to be
i m poss ib le .
1 42. Thus, fo r ex am ple , a d aniq ’s w eig h t o f o piu m is a le th al p ois o n, sin ce it
c o ngeals th e b lo od in th e v ein s b ecau se o f it s ex ce ssiv e c o ld ness. N ow th e m an
c la im in g t o k now p hysic s a ss e rts t h at c o m pounds w hic h c o ngeal d o s o o nly b eca u se o f
t h e tw o e le m en ts o f w ate r a n d e a rth — f o r th ese a re th e tw o c o ld e le m en ts . I t is a ls o
w ell k now n th at th e in te rn al c o ngealin g p ow er o f s e v era l k il o s o f w ate r a n d e arth is
n ot a s g re a t a s th at o f th e o piu m m en tio ned . S o if a p hysic is t w ere to b e to ld o f th is ,
w ith out h av in g e x perie n ced it h im se lf , h e w ould s a y : “ S uch a th in g is a b su rd ! T he
p ro of o f its a b su rd ity is th at o piu m c o nta in s f ie ry a n d a ir y c o m ponen ts , a n d th e f ie ry
a n d th e a ir y d o n ot in te n sif y it w ith re sp ec t to c o ld ness. E ven if w e su ppose th at
o piu m w ere a ll w ate r a n d e a rth , th is w ould n ot n ece ss it a te s u ch e x cessiv e c o ngea lin g
p ow er. T here fo re , i f tw o h ot e le m en ts a re jo in ed t o it , a f o rtio ri it w ill n ot n ecessita te
t h at e ffe c t.” AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 30
1 43. And h e s u ppose s th is t o b e a n a p odeic tic p ro of! B ut m ost o f th e p hil o so phers ’
“ a p odeic tic p ro ofs ” c o ncern in g m atte rs p hysic a l a n d m eta p hysic al a re b uilt o n t h is s o rt
o f a rg u m en t. F or t h ey c o nce iv ed th in gs t o b e in a cc o rd w ith t h eir o w n e x perie n ce a n d
c o m pre h en sio n, w hile p re su m in g th e im possib il ity o f w hat w as u nfa m ili a r to th em .
I n deed , w ere it n ot f o r th e f a m ili a r f a ct o f tr u e v is io n in d re am s, th e c la im o f a n yo ne
a sse rti n g t h at h e k new th e u nse en w hile h is s e n se s w ere d orm an t w ould b e r e je cte d b y
m en w it h s u ch m in ds.
1 44. Furth erm ore , s u ppose o ne w ere to s a y to s u ch a m an : “ C an th ere e x is t in th is
w orld a t h in g t h e s iz e o f a g ra in , w hic h , i f p ut i n a t o w n, w ould d ev our t h at t o w n i n i t s
e n tir e ty , a n d t h en w ould d ev our i t s e lf , s o t h at n oth in g w ould b e f e lt o f t h e t o w n a n d i t s
c o nte n ts , n or w ould th is th in g its e lf b e le ft? ” H e w ould s u re ly a n sw er: “ S uch a th in g
i s a b su rd a n d b elo ngs t o t h e r e a lm o f f a ir y t a le s!” Y et t h is i s t h e c ase w ith f ir e , w hic h
a n yo ne w ho h ad n ev er s e e n f ir e w ould d en y if h e h ea rd a b out it. M ost d en ia ls o f th e
w onders o f t h e a fte rli f e b elo ng t o t h is c ate g o ry .
1 45. So w e w ould sa y to th e natu ra l philo so pher: “Y ou hav e alr e ad y been
c o m pell e d t o s a y t h at o piu m h as a s p ecia l p ro perty o f c o ngea lin g w hic h i s i n co nsis te n t
w ith w hat is u nders to od in p hysic s. W hy, th en , ca n th ere n ot b e in th e re v ea le d
o rd in an ce s c erta in p ro pertie s o f h eali n g a n d p urif y in g h ea rts , w hic h a re b ey o nd th e
g ra sp o f w is d om b ase d o n r e aso n, n ay m ore , th at c an b e d is c e rn ed o nly b y th e e y e o f
p ro phec y ?” W hy th ey e v en a ck now le d ge p ro pertie s m ore m arv elo us th an th is in th e
t h in gs ex perie n ce d in th e tr e a tm en t o f a p re g n an t w om an fo r w hom p artu rit io n is
d if fic u lt b y u sin g t h is f ig u re :
4 9 2 D T B
3 5 7 J H Z
8 1 6 H A W
This is w ritte n o n tw o p ie c es o f c lo th n ev er to uch ed b y w ate r. T he p re g n an t w om an
k ee p s h er e y e fix ed o n th em a n d p uts th em u nder h er fe et, a n d fo rth w ith th e c h il d
h aste n s to c o m e o ut. T hey h av e a ck now le d ged th is to b e p ossib le a n d h av e c ite d it i n
t h eir w ork o n T he M arv e ls o f S pecia l P ro pertie s. T his fig u re c o nta in s n in e s q uare s
w ith s p ec if ic n um bers w ritt e n in th em in s u ch a w ay th at th e s u m o f th e n um bers in
a n y o ne l i n e, r e a d s tr a ig h t o r d ia g o nally , i s f if te en .
1 46. How in th e w orld , th en , c an a m an w ho b eli e v es s u ch a th in g b e to o n arro w -
m in ded to b elie v e th at th e p re sc rip ti o n o f tw o r a k‘a s fo r th e m orn in g p ra y er, a n d o f
f o ur fo r th e n oon p ra y er, an d o f th re e fo r th e su nse t p ra y er, is b ec au se o f sp ecia l
p ro pertie s, u nknow ab le b y p hil o so phic al re a so nin g, w hic h h av e th eir ca u se in th e
d if fe re n ce o f th e tim es in volv ed . T hese p ro pertie s a re p erc eiv ed o nly b y th e li g h t o f
p ro phec y .
1 47. Asto nis h in gly e n ough , w ere w e t o c h an ge t h e m ode o f e x pre ss io n t o t h at o f t h e
a str o lo gers , th e n atu ra l p hilo so phers w ould r e ad il y u nders ta n d th e d if fe re n ce o f th ese
t i m es. T hus w e w ould sa y : “ D oes n ot th e ju dgm en t c o ncern in g th e sta r o f d estin y
d if fe r b ec au se o f th e s u n’s b ein g a t its z en ith , o r a sc e n din g, o r d esc en din g, s o t h at th e
a str o lo gers b ase o n th is th eir fo re ca sts o f d iv ers ity o f tr e a tm en t a n d d is p arity in lif e
s p an s a n d ti m es o f d ea th ?” Y et th ere is n o re al d if fe re n ce b etw een th e s u n’s s e ttin g
a n d its b ein g a t it s z en it h , o r b etw een s u nse t a n d th e s u n’s b ein g in its d esc e n dan cy .
S o w hat re a so n c an th ere b e fo r b elie v in g s u ch th in gs e x ce p t th at a m an h ea rs th em
p ut in th e ja rg o n o f a n a str o lo ger w hose fa ls e fo re ca sts h e m ay h av e e x perie n ced a
h undre d tim es? Y et ag ain an d a g ain h e b eli e v es h im , so m uch so th at, w ere th e
a str o lo ger to t e ll h im : “ W hen th e s u n is a t i ts z en ith , a n d a c erta in s ta r i s i n o ppositio n
t o it, a n d s u ch a c o nste ll a ti o n i s i n t h e a sc e n dan cy , if y o u p ut o n a n ew g arm en t a t t h at
t i m e, y o u w il l b e s la in in th at g arm en t,” h e th en w ould n ot p ut o n th e g arm en t a t th at AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 31
t i m e, e v en th ough h e m ig h t th en s u ffe r in te n se c o ld , a n d e v en th ough h e m ig h t h av e
h ea rd i t f r o m a n a str o lo ger w hose f a ls e f o re casts h e h ad k now n m an y t im es!
1 48. When o ne is b ro ad -m in ded e n ough to a cc ep t s u ch m arv els a n d i s c o m pelle d t o
a d m it t h at t h ey a re s p ecia l p ro perti e s, t h e k now le d ge o f w hic h i s a n a p olo getic m ir a c le
f o r s o m e p ro phets , h ow i n t h e w orld c a n h e d en y t h at t h e s a m e i s t r u e o f w hat h e h ea rs
s a id b y a tr u th fu l p ro phet, c o nfir m ed b y m ir a cle s, w ho h as n ev er b ee n k now n to li e ?
F or if a p hilo so pher d en ie s t h e p ossib il ity o f s u ch s p ecia l p ro pertie s in t h e n um bers o f
r a k‘a s, th e th ro w in g o f th e sto nes, th e n um ber o f th e p rin cip al ce re m onie s o f th e
p il g rim ag e, a n d th e o th er p re sc rip tio ns o f r e v ela ti o n, h e w ill n ot f in d a n y d if fe re n ce a t
a ll b etw ee n t h ese a n d t h e s p ec ia l p ro pertie s o f t h e m ed ic am en ts a n d t h e s ta rs .
1 49. He m ay s a y : “ I h av e a lr e ad y h ad s o m e e x perie n ce o f t h e s ta rs a n d o f m ed ic in e,
a n d I h av e f o und s o m e o f t h at t o b e t r u e. H en ce b elie f i n i t h as b eco m e f ir m ly f ix ed i n
m y m in d a n d I h av e c ea se d to r e g ard it a s im pro bab le a n d to s h y a w ay f ro m it. B ut I
h av e h ad n o e x perie n ce o f w hat y o u h av e m en tio ned : h ow , th en , c an I k now th at it
e x is ts a n d i s v erif ia b le , e v en t h ough I a d m it i ts p ossib ili ty ?” I w ould a n sw er: “ Y ou d o
n ot lim it y o urs e lf to b elie v in g w hat y o u h av e e x perie n ced . O n th e c o ntr a ry , y o u h av e
l i s te n ed to th e re p orts o f e x perie n ced m en a n d h av e u nquestio nin gly a cc ep te d th eir
s ta te m en ts . L is te n , th ere fo re , to th e u tte ra n ce s o f th e p ro phets : fo r th ey h av e in deed
e x perie n ced a n d s e e n w hat i s t r u e i n a ll t h at r e v ela tio n h as b ro ugh t u s. F ollo w i n t h eir
p ath , a n d y o u w il l p erc e iv e s o m e o f t h at b y d ir e ct v is io n.”
1 50. Furth erm ore I w ould sa y : “ E ven if y o u h av e h ad n o su ch e x perie n ce, y o u r
r e a so n p ere m pto ril y ju dges it n ec essa ry to b eli e v e a n d f o llo w th e e x perie n ced . L et u s
s u ppose th e c ase o f a m an o f m atu re m in d w ho h as n ev er e x perie n ced s ic k ness, a n d
t h en h e f a ll s s ic k . H e h as a s y m path etic f a th er s k il le d in m ed ic in e, w hose c la im t o b e
v ers e d in m ed ic in e th e s ic k m an h as b een h ea rin g e v er s in ce h e re a ch ed th e a g e o f
r e a so n. H is fa th er c o m pounds a re m ed y fo r h im a n d sa y s: ‘T his is g o od fo r y o u r
s ic k ness a n d it w ill h ea l y o u o f y o ur m ala d y.’ W hat, t h en , d oes t h e s ic k m an ’s r e a so n
r e q uir e , if th e re m ed y b e b itte r a n d fo ul- ta stin g? T hat h e s h ould ta k e it? O r th at h e
s h ould dis b elie v e an d sa y : ‘I do not unders ta n d th is m ed ic in e’s su ita b ilit y fo r
o bta in in g a cu re , sin ce I h av e h ad n o ex perie n ce o f it’ ? U ndoubte d ly y o u w ould
r e g ard h im a s s tu pid i f h e a cte d t h us.”
1 51. “S o, to o, m en o f in sig h t r e g ard y o u a s s tu pid in y o ur h esita tio n to b eli e v e. I f
y o u th en s a y : ‘ H ow c an I k now th e c o m pass io n o f th e P ro phet — G od’s b le ssin g a n d
p ea ce b e u pon h im ! — a n d h is k now le d ge o f th is s p ir itu al m ed ic in e? ’ I w ould s a y :
‘ A nd h ow d id y o u k now th e c o m pass io n o f y o ur f a th er, s e ein g th at i t i s n ot s o m eth in g
p erc ep tib le to th e s e n se s? R ath er, th ro ugh th e in dic atio ns o f h is v ario us a ttit u des a n d
t h e e v id en ce s o f h is a ctio ns in h is d aily c o m in gs a n d g o in gs y o u c am e t o k now i t w it h
a n ec essa ry a n d u nquestio nab le k now le d ge.’ ”
1 52. Anyo ne w ho re fle cts o n th e sa y in gs o f th e A postle — G od’s b le ss in g an d
p ea ce b e u pon h im ! — a n d o n th e r e p orts th at h av e c o m e d ow n a b out h is c o ncern f o r
g u id in g m en rig h tly a n d h is su btle ty a n d d eli c ac y in d ra w in g p eo ple b y th e v ario us
f o rm s o f g en tle n ess a n d k in dness t o th e im pro vem en t o f th eir m ora ls a n d th e p atc h in g
u p o f d is c o rd an d, in g en era l, to w hate v er is b est fo r th eir re lig io us an d te m pora l
a ffa ir s , o bta in s a n ece ss a ry k now le d ge o f th e f a ct th at th e c o m passio n o f th e A postle
f o r h is C om m unity w as g re ate r t h an a f a th er’s c o m pass io n f o r h is s o n.
1 53. More o ver, w hen o ne c o nsid ers th e m arv elo us d eed s m an if e ste d a t h is h an ds,
a n d th e w onders o f th e u nse e n r e p orte d in th e Q ur’a n a n d th e tr a d itio ns, a n d w hat h e
m en tio ned a b out th e d is ta n t fu tu re — w hic h in th e e v en t tu rn ed o ut ju st a s h e h ad
s a id — h e k now s w ith n ec essa ry k now le d ge th at th e A postle h ad re a ch ed th e s ta g e
w hic h is b ey o nd re aso n an d th at th e ey e h ad b een o pen ed fo r h im to w hic h are
u nveile d th e u nse e n an d th e sp ec ia l p ro perti e s an d th in gs w hic h re aso n d oes n o t AL- GH AZ L Deliv era nce f r o m E rro r 32
p erc eiv e. T his , th en , is th e w ay to acq uir e th e necessa ry know le d ge of giv in g
c re d en ce to th e P ro phet — G od’s b le ssin g a n d p ea ce b e u pon h im ! S o tr y it y o urs e lf
a n d m ed ita te o n th e Q ur’ n a n d s tu dy th e tr a d itio ns — th en y o u w ill k now th at b y
s e ein g w it h y o ur o w n e y es.
1 54. What w e h av e s a id is e n ough to w arn th e d ev ote e s o f p hilo so phy. W e h av e
m en tio ned i t b ecau se o f t h e u rg en t n ee d f o r i t a t t h is t im e.
1 55. (4 ) As fo r th e fo urth re a so n, viz . th e w eak ness of fa it h due to th e
s c an dalo us c o nduct o f th e le arn ed , th ere a re th re e r e m ed ie s f o r th is s ic k ness. O ne o f
t h em is fo r y o u to sa y : “ T he le arn ed m an w ho, y o u a ll e g e, d ev ours w hat is illi c it ,
k now s th at s u ch illi c it th in gs a re f o rb id den j u st a s w ell a s y o u k now th at w in e a n d
p ork a n d u su ry — to s a y n oth in g o f b ac k bitin g, ly in g, a n d s la n der — a re fo rb id den .
N ow y o u k now t h at, y et y o u d o s u ch t h in gs, n ot b ec au se o f th e l a ck o f y o ur b elie f t h at
i t i s d is o bed ie n ce, b ut r a th er b eca u se o f y o ur d esir e w hic h g ets t h e b ette r o f y o u. W ell
h is d esir e is li k e y o urs , a n d it h as in dee d g o t th e b ette r o f h im . S o h is te ch nic al
k now le d ge o f s u btle q uestio ns b ey o nd th is p ro hib itio n, b y w hic h h e is d is tin gu is h ed
f ro m y o u, d oes n ot n ecessa ril y in volv e a m ore se v ere w arn in g ag ain st th is o r th at
s p ecif ic i l lic it a ctio n. H ow m an y a m an w ho b eli e v es i n m ed ic in e c a n not a b sta in f ro m
f ru it a n d c o ld w ate r, e v en th ough h e h as b een w arn ed a g ain st th em b y h is p hysic ia n !
B ut th at does not pro ve th at th ey are not in ju rio us, or th at fa ith in m ed ic in e is
u nso und. T his , t h ere fo re , i s t h e w ay t o c o nstr u e t h e f a u lt s o f t h e l e a rn ed .”
1 56. The s e co nd r e m ed y i s th at th e m an in th e s tr e et b e to ld : “ Y ou o ugh t to b eli e v e
t h at th e le arn ed m an h as ac q uir e d h is le a rn in g as a p ro vis io n fo r h im se lf in th e
a fte rli f e a n d s u ppose s th at h is le a rn in g w ill s a v e h im a n d w ill b e a n in te rc esso r fo r
h im . S o in v ie w o f t h at h e m ay b e n eg lig en t i n h is a cti o ns b eca u se o f t h e m erit o f h is
l e arn in g. A nd th ough it b e p oss ib le th at h is le arn in g w ill b e ad diti o nal ev id en ce
a g ain st h im , y et h e th in ks it p oss ib le th at it w il l p ro cu re h im a h ig h er r a n k in h eav en .
T his m ay b e th e c a se , f o r, e v en t h ough h e h as g iv en u p g o od w ork s, h e c an a d duce h is
l e arn in g in h is fa v or. B ut y o u, c o m mon m an th at y o u a re , if y o u p atte rn y o urs e lf o n
h im a n d g iv e u p g o od w ork s w ith out h av in g a n y le arn in g, y o u w ill p eris h b ec au se o f
y o ur e v il d oin g, a n d t h ere w ill b e n o i n te rc e ss o r f o r y o u!”
1 57. The th ir d re m ed y, a n d th is is th e re a l o ne, is th at th e tr u e m an o f le a rn in g
c o m mit s a s in o nly b y w ay o f a s lip , b ut w ill in n o w is e s tu bborn ly p ers is t i n h is s in s.
F or tr u e le a rn in g is th at w hic h le ad s to th e k now le d ge th at s in is a d ead ly p ois o n a n d
t h at t h e a fte rlif e i s b ett e r t h an t h is l if e . A nd a n yo ne w ho k now s t h at w ill n ot b arte r t h e
b ette r fo r s o m eth in g in fe rio r. T his k now le d ge is n ot th e fru it o f th e v ario us ty p es o f
k now le d ge w it h w hic h m ost m en b usy t h em se lv es. H en ce t h e k now le d ge t h ey a c q uir e
o nly m ak es th em b old er i n d is o bey in g G od M ost H ig h . T ru e k now le d ge, o n t h e o th er
h an d, in cre a se s its p osse ss o r’s r e v ere n ce , f e ar, a n d h ope, a n d th is s ta n ds b etw een h im
a n d t h e c o m mis sio n o f s in s, s a v e f o r t h ose s lip s f ro m w hic h , i n m om en ts o f w eak ness ,
n o m an is fre e . B ut th is is n ot a sig n o f w ea k fa ith , fo r th e b eli e v er is tr ie d b u t
c o ntin ually r e p en ta n t, a n d h e i s f a r f ro m s tu bborn i m pen it e n ce .
1 58. This is w hat I w an te d to m en ti o n c o nce rn in g th e c rit ic is m o f p hilo so phy a n d
t a ‘l m is m a n d th eir s h ortc o m in gs a n d o f th e fa ilin gs o f th ose w ho re je c t th em in a n
u nsu ita b le w ay . W e b eg a lm ig h ty G od t o c o unt u s a m ong t h e m en o f H is p re d ile c tio n
a n d ch oic e w hom H e d ir e cts to th e tr u th an d g u id es, w hom H e so in sp ir e s w it h
r e m em bra n ce o f H im th at th ey n ev er fo rg et H im , w hom H e s o p re se rv es fro m th eir
o w n e v il th at th ey p re fe r n one to H im , a n d w hom H e s o a tta c h es to H im se lf (1 2.5 4 )
t h at t h ey s e rv e n one b ut H im a lo ne!
And G od’s ble ssin g be upon M uham mad , best of m en , an d upon his
C om m unity , b est o f c o m munit ie s!
